of rail workers go on strike for the second time in three days over pay and working conditions. sevastapol, the home of russia's black sea fleet in crimea, appears to have come under drone attack again. michael gove backs rishi sunak to become the next conservative party leader and prime minister saying he has what thejob requires. he says rival liz truss's tax the government and unions say they're disappointed that p&0 ferries will not face criminal action for the way it dismissed 800 workers without notice in march. now on bbc news, talking business with aaron heslehurst. the momentum behind women's sport is at fever pitch after england win the european football cup — but are the dollars finally flowing in to level the playing field with the men? well come to talking business. overpower, overtake,, the words of

serena williams. are the booming duller is finally beginning to flow into the world of women's sports? england's lionesses recently won the women's tournament. but when and the reaction, the latest marker in the rise of women's sports, but with fans and brands hungry for more, as everything in place to realise that potential? i will be speaking to the director of the english women's football association. and we'll be focusing the spending of women sports fans around the world. and why is there such a difference in

pay between men's and women's sport? i will find out with someone who has brought in equal prize money to the world of surfing, she is now the big boss of us ski and snowboard. a warm welcome to the show. women's sports is on the rise. the recent euro women's championship drew record crowds and millions more viewers than before. thousands of fans took to the streets of london to celebrate their teams victory,

the first for an english football team since the 1960s, with the tournament creating a whole new generation of fans. but questions are always asked in these moments of how to build on the momentum created by these big occasions to grow women's sport as a whole. this could be a turning — women's sport as a whole. this could be a turning point _ women's sport as a whole. this could be a turning point for— women's sport as a whole. this could be a turning point for women - women's sport as a whole. this could be a turning point for women in - be a turning point for women in sport. as a group of girls we would love to see that change. we set out to inspire the next generation, to inspire the nation, but the girls in sport, it could be a big turning point, that is what we are excited for. ., , ., ., ,, ., for. not 'ust football on the app on that. for. notjust football on the app on that. with crowds _ for. notjust football on the app on that. with crowds for _ for. notjust football on the app on that. with crowds for women's - that. with crowds for women's cricket, rugby and basketball all breaking records. but currently the gap in money between women's and men's sports is vast. let us take a look at some of the numbers. global sport was worth around $350 billion in 2021, but only a fraction of that was coming from women's sports, with

predictions putting that value under $1 billion per year, but that is changing with the growth in sports like women's football leading the charge, it is forecast to be over $1 billion per year in the uk alone by the end of the decade. those predictions and the obvious results seen of late have brands and broadcasters realising the huge protection —— potential? more good news for another study, fans of women's sport a 25% more likely to buy sponsors products than for men sports. and what a bumper year it is for showcasing women's sport, with some events long over due to the pandemic. just around the corner, the women's rugby union and rugby league world

cup. but it is football that is leading the charge. next year, it is the big one, the fifa women's world cup in australia and new zealand, where they will be hoping the sporting action on the pitch and business action off the pitch will continue to grow. to gauge the state of play in the home of football in england in the back of that historical win in the euros i caught up historical win in the euros i caught up with the director of the women's professional game at the english football association. kelly simmons, a pleasure having you on my show. let us start with this. how important do you think that when in the euros could be for the professional game here in england? usually important. the entire tune it was important. it shows the full potential of women's football, if you invest in something, market it well, people will come in huge numbers. it wasn'tjust well, people will come in huge numbers. it wasn't just the final, with over 87,000 people at the sold—out wembley stadium. there were stadiums full right across the

country, across the entire tune it. notjust england games. i knew england games would do well. what i was pleased with was the size of the crowds for the non—england games, just shows the appetite for great women's sport and great women's football. it has to showcase the quality of the product, the fabulous athletes in the past is that we have, and the potentialforfurther growth in the women's game. flat have, and the potential for further growth in the women's game. not 'ust of this country — growth in the women's game. not 'ust of this country but �* growth in the women's game. not 'ust of this country but across i growth in the women's game. not 'ust of this country but across the i of this country but across the world. how much of a difference have you seen from sponsors since the win? those enormous crowds in trafalgar square. england is finally winning a football trophy. has the full been ringing off the hook? it football trophy. has the full been ringing off the hook?— football trophy. has the full been ringing off the hook? it really has. it is notjust _ ringing off the hook? it really has. it is notjust been _ ringing off the hook? it really has. it is notjust been since _ ringing off the hook? it really has. it is notjust been since the - it is notjust been since the tournament. we have not done this by chance. this is part of a long—term strategy to invest in the whole game. a number of brands before that you know when were investing significant in the women's game. since that final the phone has been ringing, i am sure notjust the

football association phone, but the brands as well. big interest in brands as well. big interest in brands that want to get behind this fantastic cause in looking to develop women's football and put it very much on the map.— develop women's football and put it very much on the map. where do you see the best — very much on the map. where do you see the best places _ very much on the map. where do you see the best places for— very much on the map. where do you see the best places for that _ very much on the map. where do you see the best places for that money i see the best places for that money to go? in terms of trying to build and maintain that momentum? great cuestion. and maintain that momentum? great question- we — and maintain that momentum? great question. we need _ and maintain that momentum? great question. we need brands _ and maintain that momentum?

opportunities, from girls who may have been excluded from playing football, right through to professional football. currently, still this vast _ professional football. currently, still this vast difference - professional football. currently, still this vast difference in - professional football. currently, still this vast difference in the l still this vast difference in the money between them men's and women's leagues, top mensah players being paid more in a week than many of the top women's players get for a year. is that all set to change? it is changing. because _ is that all set to change? it is changing. because in - is that all set to change? it 3 changing. because in the women's game of the salaries are going up year on year, notjust in this country, but globally, there is a growth in salaries, and commercial endorsements particularly off the back of the euros, we are probably for the first time those players become household names. job one is to build the women's game to be sustainable in its own right. to put those foundations in place that will help the women's game grow. that investment in people around the club, facilities, steadier, marketing budgets, things needed to

help amplify and grow women's sport. from there, over a period of time there women's salaries will continue to close that gap. the there women's salaries will continue to close that gap.— to close that gap. the supporters of women's football _ to close that gap. the supporters of women's football tend _ to close that gap. the supporters of women's football tend to _ to close that gap. the supporters of women's football tend to be - to close that gap. the supporters of. women's football tend to be younger, and unsurprisingly more female than their main scheme, which certainly looks great for the future, but how do you encourage more of those audiences to get involved week in and week out? fill" audiences to get involved week in and week out?— and week out? our challenge and their opportunity _ and week out? our challenge and their opportunity is _ and week out? our challenge and their opportunity is that - and week out? our challenge and their opportunity is that in - and week out? our challenge and their opportunity is that in the - their opportunity is that in the euros that there were significant numbers of purchasers, over 40% were female, quarterwere numbers of purchasers, over 40% were female, quarter were children, a big family audience, a real opportunity in the women's game. it is price friendly. it is a welcoming, safe place. a very inclusive place to bring your family. place. a very inclusive place to bring yourfamily. we can pull more families in alongside the

traditional football audience that we know are of the. fist traditional football audience that we know are of the.— traditional football audience that we know are of the. at the moment that women — we know are of the. at the moment that women players _ we know are of the. at the moment that women players are _ we know are of the. at the moment that women players are perhaps - we know are of the. at the moment i that women players are perhaps more positive role models and some of the main —— meal counterparts, unsullied by scandals of stories of wealth. how do you hope to maintain that going forward? i how do you hope to maintain that going forward?— how do you hope to maintain that going forward? i know some of the -la ers going forward? i know some of the players well. _ going forward? i know some of the players well. they _ going forward? i know some of the players well, they are _ going forward? i know some of the players well, they are fantastic - players well, they are fantastic role models and ambassadors. and how much they care about the women's game, they care about the next generation. the different opportunities they have had, they had to fight for really have got to. i don't have to worry about, of all the things i know i have to do, i know that they will continue to advocate so well for the women's game. they are a fantastic bunch of young women who really care about the sport. 0n the sport. on that positive note, a real pleasure having you on the show, best of luck with everything, i would love to talk to you soon.

thank you very much. for more on plugging into some of that untapped demand for women's sport and the potential dollars to be made, i have been speaking to the big boss of athletics company. thank you for your time. we are using the recent went by the english women's soccer team to explore the growing business of women's sport. record numbers watching at home and in the stadiums. how important is it that that treatment has been for women's sport? that treatment has been for women's sort? ., ., , ., ., that treatment has been for women's sort? ., .,, ., , ., ., ., sport? that was a pivotal moment in the course of — sport? that was a pivotal moment in the course of history. _ sport? that was a pivotal moment in the course of history. i _ sport? that was a pivotal moment in the course of history. i remember i the course of history. i remember the course of history. i remember the 1999 world cup, sold—out crowd at rose bowl stadium, that put women's sports, women's soccer specifically, on the map. but i think the euros more recently have been able to recapitalise the

conversation around the sport itself, women's sport, and isjust the growth of the game in general. we have been using numbers from some international research that shows people are keen to see more and more women's sport, if only there was more to watch. how do you go about getting better access? {line more to watch. how do you go about getting better access?— getting better access? one of the number one _ getting better access? one of the number one reason _ getting better access? one of the number one reason is _ getting better access? one of the number one reason is that - getting better access? one of the number one reason is that there i getting better access? one of the i number one reason is that there has not been enough supply. the demand is there. a lot of fans are going online, downloading apps, following athletes directly, trying to get their hands on any content they can. a lot of that comes in digital format. that is showing as there is a demand out there, on the supply side of the market, when linear tv puts it on tv, the typical broadcast view, those same fans are going to tune in, and more so. a lot of numbers been thrown out in terms of ratings and the amount of people that watch the euros, but what we have been studying is all these

digital interactions that you as a show there is a massive audience thatis show there is a massive audience that is untapped and wants to spend more time and more money on the women's side of the game. research from our women's side of the game. research from your company _ women's side of the game. research from your company and _ women's side of the game. research from your company and others - women's side of the game. research | from your company and others shows how fans of women's sport might be seriously good news certainly for brands and sponsors, and more likely to buy into associated products and spend more time with them. minot to buy into associated products and spend more time with them. what is behind us findings? _ spend more time with them. what is behind us findings? we _ spend more time with them. what is behind us findings? we found - spend more time with them. what is behind us findings? we found in - spend more time with them. what is behind us findings? we found in our| behind us findings? we found in our research it is about the quality of the fan versus the quantity of the fan. most meal sports are drawing enormous eyeballs. everyone expects ratings to be high, number of tickets to be sold to be high. what we are seeing is that while quantity is not as high on the women's side, quality is much deeper, fans of women's sport, which includes men and women, if you follow women's sports you are spending more money with the brands that sponsor your

teams or your leagues, you are literally spending more time consuming digital and linear content, which is very valuable in today's age. the consumer may not have an attention span, they are watching longer on they women's side of the equation. they are deeper, more loyal, more engaged fans. thinking about growth, going after their women's market is more valuable. these consumers are deeper, more engaged, they will spend more money. that is big money if you can grow that fan base. i am wondering —— i am wondering, are these new fans that were previously not watching sport? a lot of these fans of women's sport ijust a lot of these fans of women's sport i just sports fans. they do not really care about gender, theyjust want great sport, great entertainment. they want a great atmosphere. if you are going to invest and build on the atmosphere,

invest and build on the atmosphere, in the fan experience, the product on the field, again these fans who have grown up in a different either that were not looking at gender, they were looking at the sport, they want to be entertained and have a good time, that is what you are seeing on the women's side of the market. finally we are able to pack these stadiums, able to bring quality teams, invest in a fan experience, the market is absolutely there. some of these fans for the first time might go, that was a great time, let as go back. the rest of the markets, the traditional market is waking up. the more start—ups investing on main sites is more akin to a private longer term, yes it is growing, but will it go at the same piece of the roman side of the same piece of the roman side of the market? if i had a $1 bet today on a million—dollar bit i would put it on their women's market and play the long game. women's sport seems to be at this

incredible time of amazing growth. that the commercial differences to the men are still vast. i am just wondering what are some of the obstacles in place. is itjust a matter of time that that gap will close? , ., ., ., , ., , ., close? yes, our data shows that the the urowth close? yes, our data shows that the the growth of _ close? yes, our data shows that the the growth of women's _ close? yes, our data shows that the the growth of women's market, - close? yes, our data shows that the the growth of women's market, you | the growth of women's market, you are not only growing fans of a better place, you are retaining them at a better place, this market is great for investment, that's will be the key difference between women's sports growing at an exponential pace, and at an average pace. catching up to the main site of the market. young people who have played sports, men and women, are growing up sports, men and women, are growing up seeing they want to be entertained. the key is private equity firms, individuals, are they going to be investing on their women's side of the game at the same rate or more so than they have

historically on the main site? most men's teams lose money that their valuations go up year after year, they are playing the long game, they are banking that the next time the buy and sell a team the evaluation will be higher. that is a different game being played. the women's side of the equation can be put some money end, you want your money out quickly, you cannot believe you are in the red for a few years. that is starting to shift are seeing women's sports as an asset which early on might be little more risky, but if you invest in the fan experience, athletes, an entire ecosystem, at the same rate as you have men, you have a great product, a great market that wants more. you have got to invest, that is the key differentiator.- invest, that is the key differentiator. ., , differentiator. let me end on this. how do you _ differentiator. let me end on this. how do you see — differentiator. let me end on this. how do you see the _ differentiator. let me end on this. how do you see the future? - differentiator. let me end on this. how do you see the future? what | differentiator. let me end on this. | how do you see the future? what is the picture of the future for women's sport?— the picture of the future for women's sport? the picture of the future for women's sort? ., ., �*, women's sport? the future of women's sorts is women's sport? the future of women's sports is very — women's sport? the future of women's sports is very bright. _ women's sport? the future of women's sports is very bright. it _ women's sport? the future of women's sports is very bright. it is _ women's sport? the future of women's sports is very bright. it is at _ women's sport? the future of women's sports is very bright. it is at its - sports is very bright. it is at its very early stages. look no further

than the olympics, where practically 50% of the participants now are women, where it is the largest global sports brand in the world, the ratings are at an all—time high, again that is driven by notjust male athletes, it is driven by men and women. look at the success of the olympics and the business of the olympics, it sets the stage for what 0lympics, it sets the stage for what to expect across all sports. it might take a few decades but i think we are trending in the right direction. we are trending in the right direction-— we are trending in the right direction. , ., ., ., direction. indeed you are. on that note, an absolute _ direction. indeed you are. on that note, an absolute delight - direction. indeed you are. on that note, an absolute delight having l direction. indeed you are. on that i note, an absolute delight having you on the show. good luck with everything. i will check in with you soon. mil everything. i will check in with you soon. �* everything. i will check in with you soon-- thanks _ everything. i will check in with you soon.- thanks for - everything. i will check in with you soon.- thanks for having | soon. all right. thanks for having me. soon. all right. thanks for having me- staying _ soon. all right. thanks for having me- staying on — soon. all right. thanks for having me. staying on the _ soon. all right. thanks for having me. staying on the theme - soon. all right. thanks for having me. staying on the theme of - soon. all right. thanks for having - me. staying on the theme of women's sport, my last guest was heading for a career in tennis, injury chaser plans, she went into marketing, has a sense worked on the commercial side of the national basketball association, rugby football union, and the world surfing league, she is

no stranger to negotiating multi—million duller deals, i caught up multi—million duller deals, i caught up with her and her latest role as the big boss of the us ski and snowboard. a pleasure having you on the show. let us start with this. re at some sort of tipping point for women's sport thanks to the euros, and the fabulous year of sporting events? i hope so. immense and has been building for many years. but you have these opportunities were you take a bigger leap forward. certainly in the uk the euros was a fantastic success. that got a lot of exposure over here. women's soccer, as we call it over here, rather than football, has been growing high on the radarfor a few football, has been growing high on the radar for a few years, particularly on the back of the us national team being so dominant and some of the equal pay coverage being very high profile over the last couple of years. but you guys backed

the euros. ., ~ ., ., , ., the euros. some of the menton, as a dancer the euros. some of the menton, as a danger that — the euros. some of the menton, as a danger that starts _ the euros. some of the menton, as a danger that starts to _ the euros. some of the menton, as a danger that starts to -- _ the euros. some of the menton, as a danger that starts to -- some - the euros. some of the menton, as a danger that starts to -- some of- the euros. some of the menton, as a danger that starts to -- some of the | danger that starts to —— some of the momentum, is that the danger that could fall out of focus. how do you stop that from happening?- could fall out of focus. how do you stop that from happening? always a challen . e. stop that from happening? always a challenge- not _ stop that from happening? always a challenge. notjust _ stop that from happening? always a challenge. not just women's - stop that from happening? always a j challenge. notjust women's sports, but sports and entertainment in general, there is so much competition. we are all on the verge of having difficulty with longevity, the news cycle is so fast, but the more great moments you have, it becomes commonplace and accepted, thatis becomes commonplace and accepted, that is the big borderfor sports, to become a big part of the narrative —— general part of the narrative. but i feel that with us skiand narrative. but i feel that with us ski and snowboard we are trying to punch above our weight and compete

with other sports. with each year i hope we are taking up more and more of the winter and spring season. we have been hearing about the great marketing potential women's sports can offer. is it becoming easier to make the case to potential sponsors that women sport is most definitely worth backing?— worth backing? absolutely. i have experienced _ worth backing? absolutely. i have experienced that _ worth backing? absolutely. i have experienced that first _ worth backing? absolutely. i have experienced that first hand. - worth backing? absolutely. i have experienced that first hand. a - experienced that first hand. a couple of things have changed from my perspective. there is the pressure on brands, if the invest in men sport their bitter invest in women sport, day and age they need to get behind both. that has opened up to get behind both. that has opened up new budgets. the second thing, it is a more commercially interesting enterprise, there is more data, the fan base is growing, the story is that these women have to tell from a brand perspective are more relatable. 0ften brand perspective are more relatable. often these women have one or two jobs. relatable. often these women have one or twojobs. maybe relatable. often these women have one or two jobs. maybe they have a

family. they are living normal lives as well as being superhuman athletes as well as being superhuman athletes as well. from a brand perspective thatis as well. from a brand perspective that is really encouraging. they know that these amazing role models will relate to a broader audience than perhaps other athletes in male sports. than perhaps other athletes in male sorts. ., ., , ., sports. you have been involved in installinu sports. you have been involved in installing equal— sports. you have been involved in installing equal prize _ sports. you have been involved in installing equal prize money - sports. you have been involved in installing equal prize money for i sports. you have been involved in i installing equal prize money for men and women in surfing, no doubt it is important to have a level reward system. it important to have a level reward s stem. , ., ., , system. it is what we need to be strivin: system. it is what we need to be striving for- _ system. it is what we need to be striving for. the _ system. it is what we need to be striving for. the economic - system. it is what we need to be j striving for. the economic reality is that we do want to make sure that it is sustainable. if you suddenly invest or pay women in a way that the business cannot support, that does not do anyone any good. unfortunately we have seen over the years different teams and leagues globally on the roman side of things not succeeds, as they might have. —— on the global side of things. sometimes we might dry and go too far too fast, having said that, from

the day as they are, when the audiences out there, i feel strongly that the prize money it needs to increase accordingly, but to go from that to equal prize money you need commercial interest, it is not some that can change overnight, we are fortunate that world surfing has an incredibly supportive ownership group who felt they wanted to take it forward, we were in a financial position where we could afford to do it and we got some commercial interests, but i have worked for the rfu in rugby, and you made tremendous strides there, but to think we could pay women the same as the men, it's meant there women's team would not have been able to exist for a very long. but that is changing over time. it is what we should be striving for stop you have been part of broadcasting negotiations through your career. abs, negotiations through your career. a lot of what we are hearing about women's sport is about gaining exposure. how do you go about putting a value to broadcasters? it

is an interesting point. at the moment is more of an art than a science. the reality is often women's sports art rating below men's but we are seeing more emphasis with that is not the case. 0ften emphasis with that is not the case. often when they are rating below it is because they have not had the consistent promotion. if you have one wnba game per week versus four orfive nba games, the fan one wnba game per week versus four or five nba games, the fan struggle to find it. they do not get that kind of consistent exposure. it is no surprise audits are lower. if you gave women's sports the platform, audiences will be similar, in some case exceed that now. you have described yourjob as a bit of a whirlwind, dropping into the beijing olympics during the pandemic, getting to grips with a new organisation, how do you see the prospects of winter sports going forward was to mark i am bullish on

the prospects. it was a bit of a warrant. a fantastic time for sports to start. we were in the midst of covid, getting ready for the olympics, looking to transform the organisation in various ways. i have loved my first eight months on the job. snow sports is that a tipping point. i now have a deeper appreciation for what these athletes are doing. when you talk about superhuman, if one comes up a lot at the moment, when you compare f1 drivers to what down hello so doing, they are going 100 miles are now without anything around them, putting their bodies on the line in a way that no other athletes are doing. the same with half—pipe athletes, jumping ten plus feet

above the pipe, if they get it wrong, they are off by an inch, they can be any very treacherous situation. for me, look, for good and bad reasons, dangerand understanding how much risk people are taking draws attention, draws viewers end. there is an opportunity for us to bring to light in more meaningful and relatable way is what these athletes are doing. thank meaningful and relatable way is what these athletes are doing.— these athletes are doing. thank you. your problem- _ your problem. that is all for this week's show. i hope you enjoyed it. you can keep up with the latest on a global economy on the website and a smartphone app. thanks for watching. i will see you soon. goodbye.

quite a brisk day for some of us today, particularly in the north—west of the country with a few heavy showers, but lots of sunshine for the rest of the day as well, particularly across central and southern areas of the country. you can see this low pressure here just crossing into the north of scotland. the weather factors to the south. the weather factors to the south. the wind arrows are blowing out of the north atlantic, that is where our era is coming from, fresh and breezy conditions for scotland and northern ireland. here is that where the front crossing ireland and northern england. to the south of that, mostly sunny spells. through this evening that could be some rain, quite heavy for a time across parts of yorkshire, deep into lincolnshire, then that whether front fizzles away and we are left with plenty of clear spells, quite

chilly in some rural spots in the north. but for most towns and cities around 10—14. north. but for most towns and cities around 1044. forecast for sunday, sunnier weather across northern parts of the country, a bit more cloud at the south, is one area of low pressure moves away, this next one takes its place. the weather fronts extend into ireland and wales as well as south—western england. here, thickening cloud, and the possibility of some rain as we go through the afternoon. perhaps heavy for a time in northern wales and merseyside. east anglia, lincolnshire, dry and warm. scotland and northern ireland, a relatively bright day. much later when compared to what we have got today. quite a blustery one this afternoon. mandy, that's all pressure edges it's —— edges these weather fronts closer to the uk. a lot of cloud, outbreaks of rain

for many parts of england and wales. at least earlier in the day. in the afternoon, most of that cloud and rain pulls out into the north sea. we are left with brighter conditions out towards the west. the outlook. thinking is that the weather should settle down as head into friday. temperatures still on the warm side, particularly in the south. that is that. goodbye.

this is bbc news. i'm shaun ley and these are the latest headlines... more travel disruption on train lines across the uk as thousands of rail workers strike for the second time in three days over pay and working conditions. we are determined to get a square deal for our people and that is exactly what we will achieve, and the public seem to be right behind us in that campaign. sevastopol, the home of russia's black sea fleet in crimea, appears to have come under drone attack again. the government and unions say they're disappointed that p&0 ferries will not face criminal action for the way it dismissed 800 workers without notice in march. michael gove backs rishi sunak to become the next conservative party leader and prime minister, saying he has what thejob requires. he says rival liz truss's tax policies will affect the poorest in society.