Seven Network Secures Exclusive Free-to-Air Broadcasting Rights for NFL in Australia, Headlined by Historic Melbourne Game

The National Football League (NFL) has announced a landmark partnership with the Seven Network, establishing Seven, 7mate, and 7plus Sport as the exclusive free-to-air broadcast partner in Australia for the 2026 NFL season.

The agreement secures live and free coverage of regular-season primetime matches, Sunday afternoon fixtures, postseason encounters, and Super Bowl LXI live from SoFi Stadium on February 15, 2027. In addition, the arrangement encompasses the historic first-ever regular season NFL game to be staged in Australia, featuring the San Francisco 49ers and the Los Angeles Rams live from the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Friday, September 11.

Highlighting the importance of the Australian market to the league’s international expansion strategy,  NFL GM for Australia and New Zealand, Charlotte Offord, emphasised the commercial value of broad media accessibility.

“Growing fandom in Australia and globally is at the core of the NFL’s international strategy, and being able to work together with great media partners like the Seven Network to reach the widest audiences is critical to us being able to achieve that.”

 “The 2026 season will see Australian fans able to access comprehensive broadcast coverage live and free on Seven and 7plus Sport, including key tent pole moments like the NFL Melbourne Game and Super Bowl LXI.

“This market continues to be a priority for the NFL, and we are excited to be working with Seven to build on the passion of our existing fans while welcoming new ones to experience the sport together,” Offord said.

The alignment arrives as local interest surges, backed by a passionate fan base exceeding 8.8 million Australians.

Noting the immense potential of securing the premier sports property, Southern Cross Media Group’s managing director and CEO, Rohan Lund, added: “Seven’s dominance in sport is unmatched, and securing the free-to-air exclusive rights to the NFL – headlined by the historic first regular season game at the MCG, is a landmark moment.” 

He added that the network’s strategy focuses on combining traditional free-to-air broadcast scale with the flexibility of digital streaming on 7plus Sport to maximise audience engagement and commercial partnerships.

As part of the expanded programming schedule, Seven will bolster its editorial output by doubling its weekly NFL Tailgate show to two episodes per week, providing dedicated Friday preview and Monday review programs alongside live game broadcasts.

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