Does Alex Scott’s departure from Disney+ highlight broader challenges in women’s football coverage?
On Thursday former England international Alex Scott stepped away from Disney+'s coverage of the Women's Champions League after two rounds of matches. The streaming service is in the second season of a five‑year deal to broadcast Europe's premier club competition and this season introduced new formats, including a watchalong show where Scott alternated presenting duties with Shebahn Aherne. The coverage has faced technical problems and drew criticism for an unscheduled advert break during Arsenal's game against HB Koge on the opening night. Scott has not explained why she left the role but told BBC Sport she was "grateful" for the opportunities she had at Disney+ and hoped to "continue working together" in the future. Her sudden exit raises the question of whether it highlights the difficulties broadcasters encounter when covering the women's game in a rapidly changing media landscape.
An unscheduled advert break during the Women's Champions League was noted on 23 September. Broadcasters have admitted they are "not sure who the audience is". The surge in interest in women's football over the past five years has been driven largely by Sky Sports and the BBC. When Disney+ secured the Champions League rights ahead of the 2025‑26 season it added significant weight to the sport, seeing potential to attract new viewers. Scott herself has launched a YouTube programme this season called One More Word WSL, which she presents on Sunday evenings alongside former England internationals Anita Asante and Fara Williams.
Broadcasters have been experimenting with format, style and tone – Disney+ even featured a dog on set during its coverage – but not every idea succeeds. Veteran women's sport journalist Carrie Dunn, who has covered the field for more than two decades, said, "The challenge broadcasters are finding is that they are not sure who the audience is." She added, "A lot of it is targeted at a new generation and it's clearly not for people who have watched women's football for longer." Dunn pointed to resourcing problems, noting that budgets are being trimmed and the same presenters and pundits are being asked to cover everything, which often fails to work.
Image source, Getty Images
Image caption, Alex Scott, Fara Williams, Ellen White and Steph Houghton are among the former England internationals that front coverage of women's football in the UK
In the summer the BBC announced that its Women's Super League highlights show would not return for the 2026‑27 season, although it stressed it remains "fully committed to women's football". To support that claim the corporation pointed to a bespoke new YouTube channel, the launch of a debate show titled The Women's Football Fallout available exclusively on BBC iPlayer, and the provision of clips and analysis on the BBC Sport website. These steps are part of a broader shift away from linear television that reflects changing audience habits. Dunn commented, "It's a tough balance where you've got to explain some context to the new fans without patronising your older fans." She added, "That's something the major broadcasters have not found a solution to yet