Welcome to The Addition, where I cover the crossover between culture, media and sport. This is a weekend round-up of the stories I've covered over the last few days.

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Leaving The Story in Israel Behind

I’ve now been back in London for a few days and am starting to take in a little of what took place when I was in Israel (and Jordan and Turkey…). Aside from helping to process it all personally, I hope writing about it more provides some insight into what is really going on, or was at least going on while I was there last week.

This is something media outlets have not entirely got to grips with. The coverage when started hysterically and had little place to go once the situation escalated, to the detriment of readers, viewers and listeners.

There is also much being missed. Having walked through a city in which many of the businesses had to be shuttered, outlets should be wondering more about the economic toll this latest war will have on Israeli society. Maybe the price of a dented Iran and (hopefully) increased security is worth it, but I see little of that conversation.

Women’s Euro 2025 Can Help Decline in Broadcast Viewers

This time next week, Women’s Euro 2025 will be underway, with the third of matches taking place. (The second day is far more enticing than the first, featuring as it does Belgium vs Italy and Spain vs Portugal.) The tournament is another significant juncture for women’s football in the media.

Since that historic moment in 2022, when Chloe Kelly and her sports bra secured the first major tournament win for an England senior side since 1966, women’s football in the UK has grown hugely. There’s now coverage of the Women’s Super League (WSL) across Sky and the BBC. Alongside that are endless podcasts and social media channels.

A report released this week by the Women’s Sport Trust revealed that there had been a 35% decrease in average TV audience per game season-on-season. The number of live WSL matches shown on the key channels - BBC One and Sky Sports Main Event and Premier League - dropped. There was a 10% decline in fans going to games, too.

ICYMI

• ​Weekly Live Blog: 23-29 June, 2025​
• ​What to Watch This Weekend, 28 and 29 May, 2025​

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