Rohan Lund Credit: Seven/SCA
Seven has secured the exclusive Australian free-to-air rights for the 2026 NFL season, including the first regular season NFL game to be played in Australia.
The San Francisco 49ers and Los Angeles Rams will play at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Friday, September 11. The agreement also covers weekly matches, the playoffs and Super Bowl LXI.
Southern Cross Media Group managing director and CEO Rohan Lund said the agreement would bring NFL coverage to Australian audiences across Seven and 7plus Sport.
"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,” Lund said.
"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 for Australia and New Zealand Charlotte Offord said the partnership would support the league’s growth in Australia.
"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,” she said.
“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.”
Southern Cross Media Group director of sport, TV, audio and streaming Chris Jones said the rights deal added another major sporting property to Seven’s schedule.
"Securing the NFL rights is a huge win for Seven and couldn't come at a better time,” Jones said.
“Fan interest has never been stronger, and audiences are embracing the league in record numbers.
“This acquisition delivers a powerful back end to the year of sport, adding another premium global property to an already outstanding sporting calendar.”
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