Post by : Naveen Mittal

Photo: X / rorydcarroll

Saudi Arabia’s New 24-Hour Women’s Sports Channel Is Here

Saudi Arabia is set to launch a new sports channel dedicated only to women’s sports. The channel will start on Friday and is a partnership between the All Women’s Sports Network (AWSN), the Saudi football federation, and the national broadcaster, Saudi Sports Company.

AWSN was co-founded by Whoopi Goldberg, the famous actor and comedian who has won an Oscar. The network started last year and is the first global channel that shows only women’s sports events.

The new channel, called SSC AWSN, will be available in Saudi Arabia through the streaming platform MBC Shahid. Fans in the kingdom will now be able to watch women’s sports matches all day and night.

A Big Step for Women’s Sports in Saudi Arabia

For a long time, women in Saudi Arabia faced many restrictions when it came to sports. Girls were not allowed to play sports at public schools until 2017. Women were also not allowed to enter sports stadiums until 2018. But these rules changed thanks to Princess Reema Bandar Al Saud, a member of the royal family and Saudi Arabia’s ambassador to the United States.

These changes have helped more women get involved in sports. The launch of the women’s sports channel comes at the same time as the new season of the Saudi Women’s Premier League. This season will be broadcast not only in Saudi Arabia but also across the world for the first time.

Princess Reema expressed her pride in how far the league has come. She said that last season, players from more than 20 different countries played in the league. With the new channel, fans outside Saudi Arabia will be able to watch the matches live and support the teams.

What Will the Channel Show?

The new channel will show one Saudi Women’s Premier League match each week during prime time. It will also broadcast international women’s sports competitions, such as the UEFA women’s events and other top leagues from around the world.

Aalia Al Rasheed, who is in charge of women’s football at the Saudi Arabian Football Federation, said this will be a “transformative milestone.” She explained that giving players a chance to be seen on a global stage will help them become more recognized and successful.

George Chung, the CEO and co-founder of AWSN, said the channel will “break barriers” by providing global coverage of women’s sports in Saudi Arabia and showing international leagues for the first time.

Why Is This Important?

Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 is a long-term plan to change the country’s economy. The goal is to reduce its dependence on oil and bring in more investments from around the world. This new sports channel is part of that plan. It will give women more chances to participate in sports and help Saudi Arabia attract more international attention.

Amill Lone, the chief executive of the Saudi Sports Company, explained that this project is aligned with Vision 2030. He said it will give Saudi women’s sports a global platform and help the country’s economy by encouraging more sports-related investments.

How Will This Change Things?

Before this new channel, women’s sports in Saudi Arabia did not get much attention. With the launch of SSC AWSN, fans in Saudi Arabia and other countries will be able to follow women’s sports more easily.

This will also encourage young girls to dream big and believe they can succeed in sports. As more people watch and support the athletes, more opportunities for training, sponsorships, and competitions will become available.

The channel will also introduce exciting matches from international leagues that have never been shown in Saudi Arabia before. This will help fans learn more about global sports and support women athletes everywhere.

A Bright Future for Women’s Sports

The partnership between AWSN and Saudi Arabia is seen as a major breakthrough. It not only provides entertainment but also promotes equality, empowerment, and development.

This new sports channel is a sign that Saudi Arabia is taking important steps to modernize and open up opportunities for women. It is a message to the world that women’s talents should be celebrated and supported.