Saudi Arabia is set to launch a dedicated women’s sports channel this Friday in partnership with the All Women’s Sports Network (AWSN), the country’s football federation, and Saudi Sports Company.
Co-founded by Oscar-winning actress Whoopi Goldberg, AWSN was launched last year as the world’s first global channel devoted entirely to women’s sports. The 24-hour SSC AWSN channel will be accessible in Saudi Arabia via the MBC Shahid streaming platform.
Female athletes in Saudi Arabia were long restricted, with girls barred from public school sports until 2017 and women banned from stadiums until 2018. These policies were reversed thanks to Princess Reema Bandar Al Saud, Saudi Arabia’s ambassador to the U.S. and a member of the royal family.
The channel launch coincides with the start of the Saudi Women’s Premier League season, which will be broadcast domestically and globally for the first time. Princess Reema said the league, which includes players from over 20 nationalities, has made “immense progress” since its 2022 launch.
Aalia Al Rasheed, head of women’s football at the Saudi Arabian Football Federation, called the broadcasts “a transformative milestone” giving players international recognition.
AWSN will air prime-time Saudi Women’s Premier League matches weekly, alongside international women’s competitions including UEFA events and other global leagues.
“Together, we are breaking barriers by providing global coverage of Saudi women’s sports while introducing an unprecedented lineup of international leagues and talent,” said AWSN CEO George Chung.
The move also aligns with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 agenda to boost foreign investment, expand the private sector, and raise the global profile of Saudi women’s sports, according to Amill Lone, CEO of Saudi Sports Company.