Where to Watch Badminton in 2025: BWF World Championships, Sudirman Cup & More (Live Streams & Replays)

How to Watch Live or Replay Badminton Matches in 2025: A Comprehensive Guide

Badminton fans worldwide are in for a treat in 2025, with major tournaments like the BWF Singapore Open, Sudirman Cup, and World Championships taking center stage. Whether you’re cheering from Asia, Europe, or beyond, here’s a detailed guide to streaming and televising the action live or on replay.

Global Platforms for Live Streaming & TV Broadcasts

1️⃣ BWF TV YouTube (Free with Some Restrictions)

The official YouTube channel of the Badminton World Federation is every fan's first stop for live matches and replays. While some content may be geo-blocked in regions with exclusive broadcasting deals, BWF TV remains the most accessible option for international viewers. 

From the Singapore Open to the World Championships, fans can access free broadcasts. Subscribing to BWF TV ensures updates on match schedules and highlights, with the channel boasting over 1.2 billion total video views annually.

What you get:

Live group stage matches from all major tournaments

Full match replays uploaded within 12 hours

Exclusive player interviews and behind-the-scenes content

Multi-language commentary options

Multi-camera angles for major matches

Free access (with some geo-restrictions)

4K streaming available for select matches

Interactive live chat during broadcasts

Website: https://www.youtube.com/c/bwftv

2️⃣ Olympic Channel (Limited Territories)

The Olympic Channel offers live streaming via Olympics.com and its mobile app for events like the BWF Singapore Open and Sudirman Cup. While territorial restrictions may limit access, the platform provides in-depth coverage, including match highlights and athlete interviews.

Key features:

Professional commentary teams

Instant replay and shot analysis

Documentary-style player features

Available in 15 languages

Available on multiple devices

Website: https://www.olympics.com/en/sport-events

Singapore Open 2025 specific page: https://www.olympics.com/en/sport-events/2025-bwf-badminton-kff-singapore-open

Mobile apps: Available for iOS and Android with Chromecast support

3️⃣ In-Flight Entertainment Options

For frequent flyers, several major airlines provide live badminton coverage through their in-flight entertainment systems:

Participating Airlines:

Emirates

Singapore Airlines

Turkish Airlines

And many more

Channel: Sport 24
Available on select flights during tournament dates

How to Watch Live or Replay Badminton Events in China

Badminton is one of China's most beloved sports, and fans across the country eagerly follow major tournaments like the BWF World Championships, Thomas Cup, and All England Open. If you're wondering how to catch all the action in 2025—whether live or on replay—this guide covers every official streaming platform, free vs. paid options, and insider tips to ensure you never miss a match.

Where to Watch Badminton in China (2025)

1️⃣ Youku Sports (Primary Rights Holder)

Coverage:

All BWF World Tour events (2022-2026)

Major tournaments: World Championships, Thomas Cup, Uber Cup, Sudirman Cup

How to Watch:

Website: Youku Sports

Mobile App: Youku Sports (iOS/Android)

Douyin (TikTok China): Official Youku Channel

Cost: Subscription required (monthly VIP access for full coverage).

Why Youku?

Exclusive rights to most BWF events in China.

High-quality streams with Chinese commentary.

Full match replays available for subscribers.

2️⃣ CCTV (Free-to-Air TV & Online)

Coverage:

Finals & select key matches (not full tournaments).

Major events like All England Open, Sudirman Cup finals.

Channels:

CCTV-5 (main sports channel)

CCTV-5+ (additional coverage)

Online Streaming:

CNTV (央视网): CCTV Sports Live

CCTV App (iOS/Android)

Best for Casual Fans:

Free access to marquee matches.

Reliable HD broadcast with expert analysis.

3️⃣ China Badminton Association (CBA) Free Streaming

Coverage:

BWF Tour events (2022-2026)

Includes World Tour Finals, Super 1000/750 events.

How to Watch:

Follow the official CBA WeChat account (中国羽协).

Register as a member (free).

Access live streams via the CBA video system.

Why Use CBA?

Completely free (no subscription).

Direct from the national association (reliable source).

4️⃣ Guangdong Sports Channel (Regional Coverage)

Coverage:

Super 1000 Events: Malaysia Open, All England Open, Indonesia Open

Select Super 750/500 tournaments

Platforms:

TV: Guangdong Sports Channel

Online: Partner platforms (check local listings).

Best for Hardcore Fans:

Focuses on top-tier tournaments with local commentary.

5️⃣ BesTV (Paid IPTV & Streaming)

Coverage:

Full BWF Tour events (including qualifiers).

How to Watch:

IPTV/Cable: BesTV sports channels

Online: BesTV Official Website

Best for Cord-Cutters:

Flexible streaming on multiple devices.

How to Watch Replays

Youku Sports – Full match replays (VIP required).

CBA WeChat – Free highlights and recaps.

CNTV (CCTV-5) – Limited replays of key matches.

Pro Tips for Chinese Badminton Fans

Free Access? Use CCTV-5 + CBA WeChat for finals and highlights.
Full Coverage? Subscribe to Youku Sports for every match.
Regional Fans? Check Guangdong Sports for Super 1000 events.
Traveling? Use a VPN if outside China to access geo-blocked streams.

Regional Broadcast Rights & Platforms

Asia-Pacific Markets

SPOTV (12 Territories)
SPOTV, through its parent company Eclat Media Group, holds exclusive rights to BWF events in Singapore, Indonesia, Thailand, South Korea, and 8 other Asia-Pacific markets until 2026. Fans can watch live on SPOTV’s TV channels (e.g., SPOTV Singapore) or via its streaming platform SPOTV NOW.

Website: https://www.spotv.net/

India
Star Sports Network and JioHotstar will telecast events like the Sudirman Cup, with live streaming on JioHotstar.

Europe

TV2 Denmark: Renewed its rights until 2025, covering Danish broadcasts of BWF tournaments.

Badminton Europe TV: Streams all matches live on badmintoneurope.tv, along with on-demand replays, podcasts, and draw updates.

Other European Countries:

UK: BBC Sports (live and iPlayer) for events like the All-England Open.

Germany: Sportsdeutschland.tv (online streaming).

France: L’Equipe (online via lequipe.fr).

Americas & Other Regions

USA/Central America/Caribbean: Court Sports Network (USA) and Star+ (ESPN) for South America.

MENA (Middle East & North Africa): WEDOTV provides live coverage.

Africa: SuperSport offers select BWF events, though coverage may vary by country.

Key Events & How to Watch Them in 2025

BWF Singapore Open (May 27–June 1)

Live Streaming: Olympic Channel, BWF TV, SPOTV (Singapore).

TV Broadcast: SPOTV Singapore (check local listings).

BWF Sudirman Cup Finals

Live Streaming: Olympic Channel, BWF TV, regional broadcasters (e.g., Youku in China, SPOTV in Asia-Pacific).

BWF World Championships (Paris, August 25–31)

Live Streaming: BWF TV, Olympic Channel, and local broadcasters (e.g., BBC in the UK, Youku in China).

All England Open (March 11–16)

UK Coverage: BBC Sports, Red Button, and iPlayer.

Global Streaming: BWF TV, regional platforms like SPOTV (Asia) and Badminton Europe TV (Europe).

Whether you’re a casual viewer or a die-hard fan, 2025 offers plenty of ways to stay connected to the shuttlecock action. Grab your device, tune in, and enjoy the thrill of world-class badminton!

Stay updated with the latest broadcast news via the BWF official website and follow your local sports channels for real-time updates.

What are the most watched badminton events?

Badminton has several major international events that attract significant global viewership. Here are the most watched badminton tournaments:

1. Olympic Games (Badminton Events)

Viewership: The Olympics are the most-watched sporting event globally, and badminton draws massive audiences, especially in countries like China, Indonesia, Malaysia, and India.

Significance: Winning an Olympic gold is the pinnacle of a badminton player's career.

2. BWF World Championships

Viewership: The premier standalone badminton event, attracting millions of fans worldwide.

Significance: Held annually (except Olympic years), it crowns world champions in all five disciplines.

3. Thomas Cup (Men) & Uber Cup (Women)

Viewership: The most prestigious team events in badminton, with huge followings in badminton-crazy nations like Indonesia, China, and Denmark.

Significance: Often compared to the "World Cup of Badminton."

4. Sudirman Cup (Mixed Team Championship)

Viewership: The premier mixed-team event, drawing strong interest from Asia and Europe.

Significance: Held biennially, it tests a nation's overall badminton strength.

5. All England Open (Badminton Championships)

Viewership: One of the oldest and most traditional tournaments, with a strong legacy and global following.

Significance: Often called the "Wimbledon of Badminton."

6. BWF World Tour Finals

Viewership: Features the top 8 players/pairs from the year, making it a high-profile season finale.

Significance: Offers one of the biggest prize pools in badminton.

Other Notable Events:

Indonesia Open (Super 1000) – Huge crowd support in Jakarta.

Malaysia Open (Super 1000) – Massive viewership in Southeast Asia.

China Open (Super 1000) – Major event in the world's biggest badminton market.

India Open (Super 750) – Growing popularity due to stars like P. V. Sindhu and Lakshya Sen.

BWF World Championships

The BWF World Championships, also known as the International Badminton Federation World Championships, is a badminton singles championship event with the highest level in the world, hosted by the Badminton World Federation. It crowns the world's top badminton players.

The 2025 BWF World Championships will be held in Paris, France from August 25th to 31st.

Expected Viewership Hotspots

Asia (China, Indonesia, India, Japan, Korea, Malaysia) – Where badminton is most popular.

Europe (Denmark, France, UK, Spain) – Due to Axelsen, Antonsen, and Marin’s fanbase.

Streaming (YouTube, BWF TV, national broadcasters) – Matches will trend on social media.

How Does It Compare to Other 2025 Events?

Higher stakes than All England or World Tour Finals (since it’s a World Championship).

More global attention than Sudirman Cup (individual stars > team events for casual fans).

Only the Olympics (2024) is bigger—but since 2025 has no Olympics, this is THE event.

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