Japan Faces Threat Of Women’s World Cup TV Blackout

Japanese fans face the threat of a Women’s World Cup TV blackout as the Asian country’s broadcasters have yet to strike a broadcast deal with governing body FIFA less than a month out from the global showpiece event.

Japan, a highly lucrative market for TV rights, is the last major country where a broadcast deal has yet to be finalized, as tournament organizers gear up for the July 20-August 20 World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.

Previously there had been fears of a blackout in Europe’s top soccer nations but last week FIFA reached an agreement with broadcasters in Britain, Spain, France, Germany and Italy.

Japanese Football Association chief Kozo Tashima and Japan coach Futoshi Ikeda expressed concerns over a potential blackout.

“I understand that negotiations have stalled and there’s a gulf between positions,” Tashima told a news conference in Tokyo this week. “Broadcasting rights are not aligned to the Japanese market.”

Ikeda said a blackout could harm the development of the women’s game in Japan, who won the World Cup in 2011 after beating the U.S. in the final on penalties. The Nadeshiko also reached the final in 2015.

“For women’s soccer to develop in the future in Japan, it’s important we have many people watching and supporting us,” Ikeda said, according to an interview with Reuters news agency.

“I think it’s important that the tournament is broadcast and I really hope everyone will be able to watch. Whether it will be broadcasted or not we don’t know yet, but it is important to show it on television and I really hope everyone can watch it.”

No More Bundled Packages

As things stand, fans in Japan can watch World Cup games online via the FIFA app but without Japanese commentary. Fuji TV and state broadcaster NHK held the Japanese rights for the last edition of the World Cup in 2019.

TV rights for this year’s World Cup have become a contentious issue.

The rights for this year’s tournament are being sold separately from the men’s World Cup for the first time. Previously, broadcasters gained TV rights for World Cups through bundled packages while buying access to the men’s World Cup.

Haruna Takada, the head of the Japanese women’s league, has said that she would attempt to crowdfund the money to broadcast the games.

“I understand FIFA’s opinion that it is an appropriate amount to improve the position of women, and the media’s opinion that it is market value,” Takada said, according to an interview with Kyodo news agency. “I would like to play a role in connecting them.”

Japan will make their ninth World Cup appearance this time, starting their Group C campaign against Zambia before facing Costa Rica and Spain.

The team, ranked 11th in the world, was knocked out in the last-16 by the Netherlands at the last edition in 2019.