In a landmark moment for Australian sports broadcasting, the Seven Network has announced that it has secured the exclusive domestic free-to-air rights for the 2026 NFL season. This historic broadcast agreement includes the first regular-season NFL game on Australian soil, live from the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Friday, 11 September, broadcast on Seven and 7plus Sport.
Fans across the nation will have front-row seats as two of the NFL’s fiercest rivals – the San Francisco 49ers and the Los Angeles Rams – face each other in a local morning broadcast.
As the exclusive free-to-air home of the NFL in Australia, Seven and 7plus Sport will deliver comprehensive coverage throughout the 2026 season, including key weekly matches, the playoffs and the Super Bowl.
Beyond the historic MCG game, Seven will broadcast an extensive weekly line-up of NFL action throughout the 2026 season, bringing fans some of the best games each week.
Fans can also expect additional analysis this season as Seven expands its dedicated weekly programme, NFL Tailgate, to twice a week. The extended line-up will deliver the latest news, analysis and highlights from across the league, with a comprehensive Friday preview programme followed by a Monday morning review show.
Southern Cross Media Group Managing Director and CEO Rohan Lund said: “Seven’s dominance in sport is unmatched, and securing the exclusive free-to-air rights to the NFL, headlined by the historic first regular-season game at the MCG, is a landmark moment.
“Australians possess an unrivalled passion for live sport, and our focus is on bringing the world’s biggest sporting spectacles to local audiences completely free. By combining the scale of free-to-air broadcasting with the flexibility of 7plus Sport, our multi-platform expertise ensures that every fan, regardless of how or where they watch, gets a front-row seat to the action.
“The NFL has captured the imagination of local fans like never before. We look forward to bringing the incredible energy of this global phenomenon to life, delivering an unforgettable, world-class experience for both our audiences and commercial partners.”
NFL General Manager Australia and New Zealand Charlotte Offord said: “Growing fandom in Australia and globally is at the core of the NFL’s international strategy, and working with great media partners such as the Seven Network to reach the widest possible audiences is critical to achieving that.
“The 2026 season will see Australian fans gain access to comprehensive broadcast coverage live and free on Seven and 7plus Sport, including key marquee moments such as the NFL Melbourne Game and Super Bowl LXI.
“This market continues to be a priority for the NFL, and we are excited to work with Seven to build on the passion of our existing fans while welcoming new audiences to experience the sport together.”
Southern Cross Media Group Director of Sport, TV, Audio and Streaming Chris Jones said: “Securing the NFL rights is a huge win for Seven and could not have come at a better time.
“With the first regular-season NFL game heading to Melbourne, we’re seeing the incredible momentum the sport has built across Australia. Fan interest has never been stronger, and audiences are embracing the league in record numbers.
“This acquisition delivers a powerful end to the year of sport, adding another premium global property to an already outstanding sporting calendar.”
Seven’s game-day coverage on Friday, 11 September, will begin with a special broadcast of Sunrise live from Melbourne, before the main game coverage begins at 9am AEST.
The NFL agreement further reinforces Seven’s commitment to delivering the world’s biggest sports to Australian audiences for free.
The major addition strengthens an extraordinary second half of the year on 7SPORT, which features the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games, the Australia v Bangladesh Test Series, the AFL Finals Series, the Summer of Cricket, the Repco Supercars Championship Bathurst 1000 and the Spring Racing Carnival.
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