Seven Network, the Australian commercial broadcaster, has retained and expanded its free-to-air rights in the country for American football’s elite NFL.
Through the 2025 campaign, which begins in September and runs through February 2026, Seven will carry its previous rights – two Sunday afternoon games per week (broadcast Monday in Australia) – while also adding rights to the weekly Thursday Night Football slate of games (broadcast Friday in Australia), adding as many as 17 games per year to its commitment through that slot alone.
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Seven has also added the rights to the season-opening fixture between the Super Bowl Champion Philadelphia Eagles and the Dallas Cowboys, to be held – Australian time – on Friday, September 5.
The Eagles roster includes offensive tackle Jordan Mailata, who last season became only the second Australian to win the Super Bowl.
Through the post-season, meanwhile, Seven will showcase every play-off game, and the season-ending Super Bowl showpiece, meaning the broadcaster will show over 60 fixtures per season.
Seven will continue to broadcast the NFL on its main Channel 7 linear offering, 7mate digital free-to-air channel, and 7plus streaming service.
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By GlobalDataFurthermore, ancillary content and shoulder programming around the games, including documentary shows, highlights, delayed game broadcasts, and more, as well as the annual NFL Draft pre-season event.
Speaking on the expanded partnership, NFL general manager for Australia and New Zealand, Charlotte Offord, commented: “Providing free-to-air NFL content remains a top priority, with a fan base of 7.5 million and growing across the country.”
Seven claims its coverage of the 2025 Super Bowl boasted a national TV audience of 892,000, up 11% on the season prior, while the reach of its coverage across the 2024 season reached as many as 4.7 million (up 6%).
The growth of the NFL is best illustrated by the league’s plans to stage an international game in Melbourne in the 2026 season.
Indeed, the NFL confirmed in February that Melbourne, Australia, will host regular season NFL fixtures as part of a multi-year commitment.
Launched in partnership with the government of the Australian state of Victoria and the iconic 100,024-capacity Melbourne Cricket Ground, that venue will begin to host games annually in what has been reported to be a three-year commitment.
The Los Angeles Rams franchise, one of two with marketing rights for Australia through the NFL’s Global Markets Program, will be the designated home team for the inaugural 2026 fixture.
