Women's sport on TV

I see that the New Culture Secretary Maria Miller has asked that TV companies look into the coverage of Womens sport.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-19608812

The BBC hardly show any sport these days so maybe there is a gap that they could fill. I personally do watch some womens sports but they are mainly shown on Eurosport these being Biathlon and cross country Skiing both performed at a very high level.

I'm not sure womens football will be highly watched but what you guys and girls watch

I think some sports of either sex don't translate well onto the TV, yes raise the profile of female sport on TV, but it's grass roots level where they need to capture the interest and build motivation.

A re-haul of the Nat Curric would help too!

But there the rub ...if womens sports are not shown on telly box how do they create an interest in certain sports. My daughter went to see both triathlons at the limpiks and is very interested in it, and has started watching it with me on telly. I suppose that that is not purely a women only sport and most of the coverage is quite even.

I think in europe womens sport are shown far more,

Tommygun2 wrote (see)

But there the rub ...if womens sports are not shown on telly box how do they create an interest in certain sports. My daughter went to see both triathlons at the limpiks and is very interested in it, and has started watching it with me on telly. I suppose that that is not purely a women only sport and most of the coverage is quite even.

I think in europe womens sport are shown far more,

Local advertising, clubs getting into schools, newspapers being interested in more than what the latest female tennis player is (or isn't) wearing.

Let's see how the Sportsmaker project goes, the Olympics and Paralympics have sparked people's interest but it's a bit like NYE resolutions, if it isn't really grabbed and run with (see what I did there?), interest will soon wain into apathy.

Also, look at all the threads on here from people wanting to try running or tri but feeling self conscious, lacking confidence etc... Each sport has got to really concentrate on beginners, and welcoming them to have any mass effect.

I guess it also depends on what your looking to achieve, mass participation in lifelong exercise or future champions. I would say that those paths are different in many respects.

TV companies will show what their research shows people want to watch, in order to attract advertisers.

I would hazard a guess that most sport-watchers are men, and that they prefer to watch sports with male participants.  I'd also guess that most women watching football or rugby would choose to watch men playing, particularly if they support a team.

The olympics doubtless had more people of both sexes watching sports that they wouldn't normally dream of watching, but that won't translate into significant changes in viewing habits.

So nothing will change.

Sepp Blatter said Women should wear shorter, tighter shorts for television, and that homosexuality in Women's football was far more popular than mens, what hope is there for Women's football when a man like this (aside from his corrupt activities) is in charge of the game.

There are channels with a public service remit - I think it's fair enough for the govt to ask them to show more women's sport - for purely commercial channels it's up to them.  There are sports where the women's side gets decent viewing figures - athletics, tennis and I'd guess triathlon all have a pretty even balance of interest between the men and the women and there's no reason that couldn't be the case in other sports too given time.  I watch a lot of cycling and I'd rather watch the top women in a major event than some of the mens racing that gets shown on Eurosport if it was given decent coverage.  

A bit of a tangent here but women's football in the UK doesn't help itself though.  My youngest daughter plays so I've sat down with her to watch a few matches from the women's premier league - absolutely awful long ball rubbish. 

The Olympic womens footy match I saw was really good live. Some very good skill and tactical play, they just don't have the power in the kick that the men have.

it has never been the same since Live TV ended their topless darts coverage.

skotty wrote (see)

it has never been the same since Live TV ended their topless darts coverage.

They could resurrect it again with a Royal team to inspire interest?

great idea.

give zara the chance to excel in another sport.

KK - yes to be fair I've seen some international women's football and enjoyed it - which is one reason I was so disappointed with the womens premier league.