Ion secures broadcast rights for 2027 Women’s Volleyball World Cup

Ion, a broadcast network owned by Scripps, has secured the media rights to air the 2027 FIVB Women’s Volleyball World Cup. The company announced the acquisition on Tuesday, confirming that the tournament will be broadcast across Ion and Scripps Sports’ digital platforms in both English and Spanish. The event is scheduled to take place in August and September 2027.

The World Cup serves as a critical qualifier for the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. The top three national teams that have not yet secured their spots for the Games will earn their places through this competition. All 64 matches involving the 32 participating teams will be televised, marking a significant expansion in the visibility of the sport within the United States market.

Craig Thompson, CEO of the FIVB Women’s Volleyball World Cup 2027, described the agreement as representing an unprecedented level of U.S. distribution for the event. He characterised the deal as a defining moment for the sport in this market, signalling a shift in how international volleyball competitions are consumed domestically.

The network has integrated the volleyball rights into a broader strategy to grow its women’s sports portfolio. Ion already airs weekly packages of WNBA and NWSL games, and has recently added coverage of the PWHL, the professional women’s hockey league. This move aligns with Scripps Sports’ broader efforts to expand its local footprint, which recently included adding the NBA’s Detroit Pistons to its local sports rights partnerships.

Exact financial components of the media rights deal were not disclosed. However, the announcement specified that Ion and the FIVB will collaborate with Horizon Sports & Experiences to sell sponsorship packages for the event. Specific details regarding these sponsorship packages remain public.