WOMEN’S football will get fresh TV exposure under a broadcast deal being formulated to build on the Matildas’ success at the World Cup.

One of the W-League fixtures will be played every Sunday during the women’s season as a precursor to the A-League game at the same ground, broadcast live on Fox Sports and possibly a free to air network.

It’s understood the ABC is very interested in showing the games and has held talks with Fox about “simulcast” coverage, eight months after the national broadcaster culled its W-League coverage in the wake of selling off its outside-broadcast units.

Each week the chosen game would kick off some two-and-a-half hours before the A-League fixture at the same ground, to allow time for the latter’s pre-match warm-up.

Fox Sports’ full HD broadcasting facilities would be used as they would already be in place, reducing the cost considerably.

Though no formal deal has yet been reached, the economics of the concept mean it is being viewed favourably by broadcasters keen to engage the Matildas’ growing profile.

A-League clubs would be encouraged to market the games strongly with all-inclusive ticket and membership deals.

The new W-League deal comes on the back of the Matildas’ remarkable run to the quarterfinals of the World Cup, beating holders Brazil in the Round of 16 before succumbing to Japan in the quarterfinals.

That game, which kicked off at 6am on a Sunday, averaged 345,000 viewers on SBS with a peak audience of 681,000.

The W-League itself will expand to nine teams this season, with Melbourne City joining the competition and making an instant impact with the signing of Matildas striker Lisa De Vanna.

Last November the ABC confirmed it would axe its W-League coverage along with other sports including women’s basketball, ending an association with the women’s football competition going back to its inception in 2008.

The broadcaster blamed more than $250m of cuts to government funding, but has been aware of its charter commitments to broadcast women’s sports.

On Monday night Fox CEO Patrick Delaney confirmed the pay-TV network would show the W-League games next season, adding: “It’s a fantastic outcome for women’s football in Australia and will be the perfect complement to our live Sunday afternoon A-League coverage.”

“Football fans will now be able to watch the best male and female footballers in the country every week.”

Various other options have been canvassed to cover the W-League, including live streaming of matches, but none offers the exposure that sponsors want.

Meanwhile, Melbourne City have signed the former EPL defender Aaron Hughes. The 34-year-old, recently released by Brighton, has signed a one year deal after being persuaded to join City by former Fulham teammate Damian Duff who spent last season at the A-League club.

Originally published as TV cashes in on Matildas’ success