Foxtel set for biggest year of womens’ sport

Past & present female sports stars attended a FOX Sports’ ‘Dare to Dream’ event at at Parliament House yesterday.

The event showcased FOX Sports coverage of womens’ sports, with 90% of all women’s sport on Australian TV airing on Foxtel, four times more than all free-to-air networks combined.

It follows the government last year allocating $30m in the federal budget to women’s sport on Foxtel.

Former greats Lauren Jackson and Leisel Jones, along with current stars Simona de Silvestro, Ellia Green, Caitlin Foord and Sam Bremner were amongst those who attended the event hosted by Yvonne Sampson, Kel Underwood and Jess Yates.

Foxtel CEO, Patrick Delany, said, “In 2018, FOX Sports and the Australian Government are making sure there are more pathways, more opportunities for young girls to dare to dream.

“Dream about becoming the next Erin Phillips running out on the MCG, the future Lauren Jackson representing her country or perhaps join Simona De Silvestro competing in the same field as her male competitors.

“Our plans for women’s sport and those who lead the way on and off the screen won’t be a token effort. It will be real and it will make a difference.

“Foxtel and FOX Sports, harnessing the reach of News Corp, will help grow the profile and professionalism around women’s sport.

“We will provide more platforms for female athletes to prosper across more Sports as we showcase new competitions including Super W, AFLW, increase our coverage around W-League and hockey and more.

“And in further great news, today we announce an exciting partnership with Gymnastics Australia. In the lead up to the 2020 Olympics we will become the home of gymnastics providing more coverage of one of Australia’s highest participated female Sports than ever before.

“We will continue to put more female presenters in more meaningful roles. A record 25 females across our Sports coverage, 16 shows hosted by these impressive and knowledgeable women.

“We go beyond the siren, continue past the whistle, shining a light on women’s sport in new shows, panel discussions, news bulletins and front and back pages of the newspapers.

“We support sport’s that are ready to be supported. Sport’s that have developed their structure and governance and aggressively grown their fan base. It’s a two-way partnership and both have a role to play.

“We are excited for the year ahead and working with more of these sporting bodies as collectively we grow women’s sport and those working in it.”

An increased line-up will deliver the biggest year of coverage yet. More than 60 codes and competitions will be shown across FOX Sports’ channels in 2018 providing a platform to help grow women’s sport and creating pathways for young girls to follow their dreams.

In 2018 FOX Sports will continue to champion females on screen. A record 25 female presenters will feature across our sport’s coverage and will host 16 entertainment shows and live match day broadcasts.

In further support for women working in sport, FOX Sports this month became the first media organisation to become White Ribbon Accredited. Over the past two years FOX Sports has built a work environment that promotes awareness around violence against women using the opportunity to make an impact among its employees and viewers.