Photo: WSL // Aaron Hughes
Today, ESPN and the World Surf League (WSL) announced an expanded rights agreement for live coverage of the 2025 Championship Tour. According to a WSL press release, the renewed partnership will not only continue the American coverage we’ve seen since last year, but expand into the Latin American market.
This marks the second year of ESPN and WSL’s collaboration, which was first announced in January 2024. As with last year, ESPN+ will provide coverage for the United States, but now live coverage in Latin America will be on Disney+. The expanded coverage will include Mexico, Peru, Argentina, and the Caribbean, but exclude Brazil, El Salvador, and Costa Rica.
Per the agreement, all 12 Championship Tour (CT) competitions (11 regular-season events and the finals) and the US Open of Surfing will be live on the streaming platforms. ESPN2 will carry the WSL’s highlight show, WSL Inside Pro Surfing, which will also be available on-demand on ESPN+ and via Disney+.
“Following a historic year for surfing, we’re thrilled to continue the momentum into the 2025 CT season by expanding access to more viewers in more ways through our work with ESPN,” said Cherie Cohen, WSL Chief Revenue Officer. “2025 will be an amazing opportunity to showcase surfing across The Walt Disney Company’s direct-to-consumer and linear platforms.”
“We’re excited to continue offering our audiences full access to the world’s best surfers as we expand our coverage across ESPN+ in the U.S. and Disney+ in Latin America and the Caribbean,” said Timothy Reed, ESPN Vice President, Programming and Acquisitions. “We look forward to teaming up with the WSL for another thrilling season.”
The 2025 Championship Tour begins on January 27 with the Lexus Pipe Pro.
