The World Surf League has agreed on a continuation of its media rights partnership into 2022 with Australian pay-television company Foxtel.

Fox Sports, owned and operated by Foxtel, is to produce coverage of the upcoming WSL Championship Tour with a ‘week-long pop-up channel’ to broadcast each event live and an hour-long event wrap for the stops.

WSL Asia Pacific GM, Andrew Stark, commented: “WSL is delighted to be continuing what has been a long and prosperous relationship with Fox Sports here in Australia. With the introduction of the Rip Curl WSL Finals, 2021 was one of the most watched seasons in WSL history. 

The deal looks to strengthen the professional surfing content on Foxtel and streamed on Kayo, as fans will be able to watch Challenger Series throughout the year with the 2022 season broadcast more than 1,100 hours of WSL content.

“This 2022 season, which sees the return of fan favourite events at Bells Beach, Tahiti, Indonesia, and Hawaii, is set to be the biggest season in the league’s history. Having Fox Sports partner with WSL again is exciting and to see our agreement continue to expand says a lot about the strength of our partnership,” Stark continued.

Furthermore, the 13-year partnership also sees Foxtel and Kayo promote the WSL via campaigns across all channels, major sports cross-promotion, integration into Fox Sports programming along with producing and broadcasting a 2022 WSL Championship Tour preview show in line with the season launch.

Foxtel Group Head of Content Acquisitions – Sport, Adam Howarth, added: “We’re proud to continue our long-term partnership with the World Surf League which will ensure our 2.4 million subscriber base has access to watch the best surfing action in the world. 

“Being able to showcase more hours than ever before on our platforms also reinforces our commitment to the sport and its passionate fanbase.”

The Billabong Pro Pipeline, the first event of the tour, will commence on 29 January next year, and is following a week-long pop-up surfing channel and season preview on Fox Sports.

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