UK public-service broadcaster the BBC will continue its coverage of England’s top-tier Netball Super League (NSL) after extending its rights agreement ahead of the 2026 season.
Under the extension, the BBC retains its rights to air one game per week during the regular season on its iPlayer streaming service to maintain the competition’s free-to-air (FTA) element.
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The new agreement builds on the BBC’s previous two-year agreement signed in 2024 to broadcast one game per week – marking the first time the league was shown on two domestic broadcasters.
The NSL’s 2026 season starts on February 21 with the Netball Super Cup, featuring all eight clubs. The regular season then begins on February 27.
Alex Kay-Jelski, director of BBC Sport said: “Championing women’s sport matters to us and bringing the NSL to BBC iPlayer puts it in front of more people than ever, free-to-air.
“It’s fast, physical and uncompromising, and we’ll be there every week, right at the heart of it.”
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By GlobalDataThe main domestic rights package is held by pay-TV heavyweight Sky as part of a three-year rights deal covering the 2024 to 2026 seasons.
Sky's original deal only included one game per week, along with the Netball Super Cup, NSL Playoffs, and Grand Final, but ahead of the 2025 season, the broadcaster increased its coverage to three weekly regular-round fixtures, a weekly analysis show Off The Court, and a weekly podcast during the competition in addition to the Super Cup, playoffs, and final.
For the 2026 campaign, Sky has pledged to air 75% of games live on its linear channels as well as on the broadcaster’s Sky Sports YouTube channel.
Internationally, NSL is available via the NetballPass streaming platform, while the league also has a partnership in place with W-Sport, the TV channel dedicated to women’s sport.
The renewal with the BBC partnership comes on the back of record viewing figures and engagement during the league’s relaunch in 2025, with the league also increasing its commercial partnerships by adding UK women’s health and beauty brand Soft and Gentle to its stable of sponsors last year.
UK-based life insurance company Vitality, meanwhile, remains the league’s principal sponsor.
NSL managing director Claire Nelson said: “Following last year’s landmark broadcast deals, I’m delighted that the Netball Super League will once again make every match available live, giving our fans unrivalled access to the league.
“Ensuring women’s sport is accessible to audiences everywhere is crucial to the continued growth of the game, and our broadcast partners, Sky Sports and BBC Sport, play a vital role in that journey.”
