Disney+ reveals Women’s Champions League production plans

Disney+ has revealed the production plans for its Women’s Champions League coverage.

The streamer is the new home of the competition, after agreeing a five-year deal earlier this year. It also unveiled its broadcast schedule this week. 

ESPN is producing its coverage, with the broadcasts to come under the ESPN brand on the Disney platform - with the claim that every match will have double the production value it did previously.

Every match will be available in English, as well as the languages of the teams playing. Selected game will also be available in other languages including Swedish, Danish and Polish. From the knockouts onwards, every fixture will be available in a minimum of five languages. 

The eight presenters across its English language coverage will be Alex Scott, Jeanette Kwakye, Ben Haines, Shebahn Aherne, Archie Rhind-Tutt, Gemma Soler, Sirayah Shiraz, and Sanne van Dongen. Meanwhile, punditry will be provided by Fara Williams, Ellen White, Nedum Onuoha, Vicky Losada, Karen Bardsley, Josephine Henning, Siobhan Chamberlain, Emma Byrne, and Merel van Dongen.

English-language commentary will come from Vicki Sparks, Jacqui Oatley, Flo Pollock, Rob Palmer, Emma Jones, Mike Minay, Chris Sharples, Steve Jamieson, Jack Woodward, and co-commentary from Lianne Sanderson, Lucy Ward, Rachel Brown-Finnis, Anita Asante, Sue Smith, Gilly Flaherty, Samantha Miller, and Ariane Hingst.

Every game will include an on-site presenter and analyst in English, and from the quarter-finals onwards presenter-and-analyst teams and pitch-side interviews will also be available in the languages of the home and away clubs. 

In addition to the live action, Disney+ will be showing every draw live and all games will be available to replay for 48 hours post-final whistle. There will also be short and extended highlights, produced in all match languages, alongside a weekly English-language highlights show.

In matchweek six, when all games kick off at the same time for the final round of league phase fixtures, the action will be covered from a central studio show with a live conference channel that connects fans to every match and every decisive highlight in real time.

Diego Londono, senior vice president & general manager, networks & sports, at The Walt Disney Company EMEA, said: “The UEFA Women’s Champions League is the pinnacle of European women’s football, showcasing the best players in the world at the highest level of competition. We are proud to bring every match to fans live on Disney+ with ESPN’s world-class coverage. From pitch-side access to commentary in multiple languages, our broadcasts will reflect the diversity and passion of the tournament. With a line-up of respected voices and unrivalled production, our coverage will give viewers a closer connection to the players, the intensity and the spirit of the game.”

Karl Holmes, general manager, Disney+ EMEA, said: “Our top-tier team of presenters, commentators, analysts and production crews, who will capture the action, passion and excitement of the tournament, will provide a truly special viewing experience for customers on Disney+. At Disney, we’re known for storytelling that moves audiences, and now we’re bringing that same commitment to the biggest stage in women’s club football. By combining iconic sporting moments with the movies, TV series and entertainment already on Disney+, fans will experience every twist, turn and moment of brilliance in a way that feels just as dramatic as the stories they love.”