The AFL has confirmed the new broadcast rights deal after choosing to remain with incumbents Seven and Foxtel.
At a press conference featuring AFL CEO Gillon McLachlan, Seven West Media chief executive James Warburton, Foxtel CEO Patrick Delaney and others, the groundbreaking deal was announced to the footy public.
Seven and Foxtel will continue to broadcast the AFL when the current deal expires in 2024 for a further seven years.
Here are all the key details, as confirmed by McLachlan.
The new agreement covers seven seasons between 2025 to 2031. McLachlan says the deal “will deliver football a financial return of $4.5 billion”.
It is the richest deal in Australian sports broadcasting history.
Channel Seven will broadcast Thursday night, Friday night and Sunday afternoon games, marquee matches, the Brownlow Medal, all AFL finals and the AFL Grand Final on free-to-air television.
The first 15 rounds of the home and away season will feature Thursday night matches on Seven.
Saturday night matches in the last eight rounds will also be on Seven.
All Channel Seven games will be streamed on its 7Plus digital.
Foxtel and Kayo will broadcast every AFL and AFLW match and every AFL and AFLW final except the Grand Final.
Foxtel and Kayo will broadcast every game with their own commentary lineup.
Foxtel and Kayo will broadcast all AFL events, including the AFL draft and awards nights, but not the Brownlow Medal.
Foxtel and Kayo will have a ‘Super Saturday’ in the first eight rounds of each AFL season, broadcasting exclusively live every game on that day, with the exception of Anzac Eve, Anzac Day and Dreamtime.
Outside of Victoria, the match involving the local team will be broadcast live into the local market by Seven, except selected matches on hold backs.
Seven will broadcast at least 30 AFLW home and away games, AFLW finals and the AFLW Grand Final will be live on Seven, with local market substitution rules.
There is potential for Friday night footy to begin before 7.50pm AEST.