World Surf League, the sport's annual top international professional series, has extended its broadcast rights partnership with Seven, the Australian commercial broadcaster, until the end of 2021.  

Seven first acquired exclusive free-to-air rights to the WSL in a one-year deal in February 2020, agreeing to broadcast live events and highlights shows on its linear and streaming channels. 

The broadcaster’s coverage of the new WSL Championship Tour will start on 4 December, with the Maui Pro event. 

Seven will cover all events from the 2021 Championship Tour, as well as the Challenger Series, Big Wave at Large, and the Longboard Tour. 

The events, Seven has said, will continue to be “broadcast across the Seven Network, and live-streamed on 7plus.”

Andrew Stark, WSL’s general manager for Asia-Pacific, said: “We’re really excited to continue our partnership with Seven in 2021. We can’t wait to see the new look Championship Tour, Challenger Series, along with our other tours and content offerings… bring surfing to more Aussie homes than ever before in 2021 across the Seven Network and 7plus.”

The WSL cancelled its entire 2020 season in July, a change that was forced on the organisers by the coronavirus pandemic, which had already caused multiple postponements and cancellations. 

Surfing will make its debut at the Olympics in Tokyo next July and August, with Seven holding rights in Australia to the games.

Sportcal