England's bid for Women's Euro 2021 glory on home soil will be broadcast to the nation after the BBC secured exclusive rights to the tournament.
The broadcaster has announced that it will provide extensive coverage of every game on television, radio and online following the success of its coverage of this summer's Women's World Cup in France.
A peak television audience of 11.7 million watched the Lionesses' semi-final showdown with eventual champions the United States, the highest TV audience of 2019 to date, with the tournament reaching 28.1million people on television alone.
We've been here before, but this time it's different. 11.7 million got behind us. The pubs, parks & homes covered in England flags. Girls & boys doing the Ellen White celebration. People saying we've changed the way women's sport will be covered forever. THANK YOU #Lionesses pic.twitter.com/FXudfRYVym — Lionesses (@Lionesses) July 7, 2019
Director of BBC Sport Barbara Slater said: "After the success of the World Cup on the BBC and the record-breaking viewing figures for women's football, we're delighted to be the broadcaster of the UEFA Women's Euro 2021 Championship.
"At the start of this summer, we wanted to shift the dial on women's football and I feel the phenomenal coverage from France has done just that. The BBC's sport portfolio continues to go from strength to strength and we're thrilled to add the 2021 Euros to that."
England's exploits under manager Phil Neville garnered new audiences at home, and European governing body UEFA is confident the BBC's coverage of its tournament will help to increase an already growing fanbase.
OFFICIAL: @England will host the 2021 @UEFAWomensEURO 🏴🦁 ✒️📆 July 2021#UEFAExCo pic.twitter.com/EvTOXWgrz3 — UEFA (@UEFA) December 3, 2018
UEFA marketing director Guy-Laurent Epstein said: "UEFA is delighted to partner with the BBC for the UEFA Women's Euro in 2021, which takes place in the United Kingdom.
"The BBC will provide an unprecedented level of coverage for the competition in the host country, ensuring that the women's game is brought to the rapidly increasing fanbase in an outstanding manner."
