NFL Lands in Melbourne on Seven
Seven wins exclusive free-to-air NFL rights, including historic Melbourne game debut
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Key Points
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NFL Tailgate will be expanded to twice weekly, adding a Friday preview show and a Monday post-game review to broaden coverage throughout the season.
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Seven will air multiple Sunday Night Football games (broadcast Monday in Australia) and Thursday Night Football (broadcast Friday in Australia) each week, in addition to postseason and the Super Bowl.
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The historic Melbourne clash will be broadcast on Friday, September 11, with Sunrise providing coverage before kickoff and a 9:00am AEST kickoff; the game will be played at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
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NFL leadership, including Charlotte Offord, emphasised that Australia’s growing fan base is central to the league’s international strategy and that Seven is crucial to reaching a broad audience.
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Seven’s Chris Jones described securing the NFL rights as a huge win for Seven, highlighting momentum behind the Melbourne game and broader Australian interest.
Seven Network has locked in exclusive free-to-air rights to the entire 2026 NFL season in Australia, headlined by a historic first regular-season game on Australian soil, according to TV Tonight and Ministry of Sport. The San Francisco 49ers will face the Los Angeles Rams at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on September 11, with kickoff set for 9:00am AEST.
The deal covers weekly games, the playoffs, and Super Bowl LXI. Seven will broadcast the Melbourne clash on a Friday morning, with Sunrise providing pre-game coverage before kickoff, 7News reported.
What the Rights Deal Actually Covers
Seven's deal goes well beyond the Melbourne game. The network will air multiple Sunday Night Football games — broadcast Monday in Australia — plus Thursday Night Football, shown on Friday locally. The full postseason and Super Bowl LXI are also included, TV Blackbox reported.
Coverage will run across both the Seven channel and its streaming platform, 7plus Sport. The arrangement keeps Seven as Australia's free-to-air home for NFL and gives fans multiple ways to watch, Sportcal noted.
NFL Tailgate Doubles Up With New Weekly Shows
Seven is expanding its NFL Tailgate program to twice a week. A Friday preview show will run before games, and a Monday post-game review will follow. The move is designed to build momentum and keep fans engaged beyond just game days, according to Ministry of Sport.
The expanded Tailgate format will carry news, analysis, and highlights throughout the season. Seven's Chris Jones called securing the NFL rights "a huge win for Seven," pointing to growing fan interest and the buzz around the Melbourne game.
Melbourne MCG Game Is Central to NFL's Global Push
The 49ers versus Rams match marks the first time a regular-season NFL game has been played in Australia. The MCG, one of the world's largest stadiums with a capacity of around 100,000, will host the September 11 kickoff, TV Tonight reported.
NFL's Charlotte Offord said Australia's growing fan base is central to the league's international strategy. She called Seven crucial to reaching a broad Australian audience. The league has been steadily expanding its global footprint, with regular-season games already played in London and Frankfurt.
Seven Cements Its Place as Australia's NFL Home
This deal renews and expands Seven's existing relationship with the NFL, Sportcal reported. Rather than a new entrant winning the rights, Seven has doubled down — adding more games, more shows, and a landmark live event to its sports lineup.
For Australian NFL fans, the deal means no paywall for the biggest games of the 2026 season. Free-to-air access to the Melbourne debut, the playoffs, and the Super Bowl puts the sport in front of a mainstream audience that streaming-only deals would likely miss.
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