The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) has recently reached an agreement with World Netball to exclusively broadcast matches from the highly anticipated Netball World Cup 2023. The tournament is set to take place in Cape Town, South Africa, during the summer season.
Running from 28th July to 6th August, the newly formed partnership ensures that BBC Television will provide live coverage of matches starting from Monday, 31st July, all the way through to the gripping final. Netball enthusiasts can catch the action across various BBC platforms, including BBC Television, iPlayer, Sounds, and the BBC Sport website.
BBC Radio 5 Live will also join in on the excitement by delivering comprehensive coverage of key matches. Listeners can tune in to 5 Live and 5 Sports Extra for live commentary of selected games, including the highly anticipated opening weekend fixtures such as England versus Malawi and England versus Scotland.
The BBC’s involvement in broadcasting Netball dates back to 1998 when it first aired live matches as part of its Commonwealth Games coverage. The network has continued to play a crucial role in the sport’s growth, covering events like the Netball World Cup 2019 held in Liverpool. That memorable tournament concluded with a thrilling final, where New Zealand emerged victorious against Australia.
This year’s Netball World Cup promises to be another exhilarating event, as England and Scotland are set to face off against each other in Pool B. Additionally, Wales will also be represented in Pool C, providing further excitement for home nation supporters.
Barbara Slater, Director BBC Sport says: “We are delighted to be showcasing the Netball World Cup 2023 free to air across the BBC. As a big supporter of women’s sport, we want to bring it to the widest audience possible. With great home nation representation, we’re hoping for plenty of drama and memorable matches.”
World Netball CEO Clare Briegal added: “It is very exciting to be announcing that the BBC will be showing all the action, from day four onwards, of the Netball World Cup 2023.
“For our pinnacle event to be broadcast free-to-air across the UK, Northern Ireland, the Channel Islands and the Isle Of Man is so important on our journey to grow and inspire, enabling the Netball World Cup to reach a wider audience, the fans of the Roses, Thistles and Feathers to follow their team and inspiring more people to get involved in netball.
“We have no doubt that this will be a world-class thrilling event, and we can’t wait to see and hear the fantastic coverage across the BBC. Thank you to the BBC for their continued support.”
