Alex Scott Leaves Disney+ Champions League Coverage as Broadcaster Questions Mount

Alex Scott has left her role in Disney+ Women’s Champions League coverage after two rounds of matches, though the presenter has not publicly explained the Alex Scott Disney+ exit. In a brief statement, Scott expressed gratitude for the opportunities Disney+ had given her and said she hoped to work with the broadcaster again.

A short tenure on a new-look broadcast

Scott had been sharing presenting duties with Shebahn Aherne on Disney+’s Champions League output. The platform introduced a watchalong show this year, part of its attempt to reach new audiences during the second season of a five-year Champions League rights deal that began before the 2025-26 campaign.

That coverage has not been without problems. Disney+ has encountered technical issues, and an unscheduled advertising break during the Arsenal versus HB Koge match drew criticism. The broadcaster also placed a dog on set during its coverage, one of several experiments as it tests formats.

Disney+ joins a crowded and shifting market

Women’s football has attracted growing interest over the past five years, with the BBC and Sky Sports leading the expansion of UK coverage. Disney+ entered the Champions League to try to bring in new viewers, while other broadcasters have been moving away from traditional television and towards digital platforms.

Scott has also launched her own YouTube show, One More Word WSL, this season. She presents it with former England internationals Anita Asante and Fara Williams. The show airs on Sunday nights, and it adds to a landscape in which former England players front much of the UK’s women’s football coverage.

Audience confusion and budget pressure

Carrie Dunn, who has covered women’s sport for more than two decades, said broadcasters are unsure who their audience is. She argued that coverage is aimed at a new generation rather than long-time viewers, and that budgets have been cut while the same presenters and pundits are overused.

Dunn said finding a balance between new and older fans is difficult, and that broadcasters have not yet solved it. Her view is that decent match coverage should come first. The BBC’s decision not to bring back its WSL highlights show for 2026-27 has added to the sense of change. The BBC said it remains committed to women’s football and pointed to a new YouTube channel, an iPlayer debate show, and clips and analysis on the BBC Sport website. It said the move reflects changing audience habits. Dunn said the balance between new and older fans remains unresolved.

Managers accept experimentation, with caveats

WSL managers have offered a range of views on the coverage. Brian Sorensen said innovations are positive despite the trial and error involved, and noted an improvement from the poor early live streams of his coaching career. Andree Jeglertz said a bigger audience is positive and that more coverage is better regardless of format. Martin Ho said clubs and players must ensure the on-field product is good, and that broadcasters have their reasons for decisions. Sonia Bompastor said new approaches please some and upset others, and that patience is needed to judge them.

Scott’s departure leaves questions about whether she will return to Disney+ coverage, and the broadcaster has not responded publicly to her exit. For now, her statement points only to gratitude and a hope of working together again.