Brand new VFL broadcast agreement announced

The AFL has agreed a four-network broadcast rights deal for the VFL in 2026.

It can be revealed the ABC, Channel 7 and Kayo Sports are all set to inject new life into the second-tier competition.

Additionally, SEN Tasmania will broadcast all Tasmania Devils home and away matches.

The free-to-air and subscription networks will join forces to beam matches into different markets across the country.

A release from the AFL read:

"Under the expanded broadcast deal, at least 53 Smithy’s VFL matches will be broadcast across the four networks, with more matches to be confirmed once scheduling for Rounds 14 to 21 is confirmed."

Despite deciding to walk away from broadcasting VFL games on Saturdays this year after a decade-long relationship with the league, Seven have committed to showing some state-based games during the season.

Long-time broadcast partner, the ABC, will return to show games in the Saturday afternoon traditional slot.

It has been confirmed that the ABC will broadcast one match each round as well as finals, the preliminary final and Grand Final.

And streaming giant Kayo will broadcast 16 games across the opening 13 rounds of the season, most likely in timeslots that minimise clashes with AFL games. Several of these will act as curtain-raisers to AFL fixtures.

Kayo will also broadcast some VFL finals.

AFL football boss Greg Swann told attendees at Wednesday’s VFL’s season launch at Whitten Oval that the new broadcast agreements would be “out of this world”.

Matthew Chun, the AFL Executive General Manager of Finance, Broadcast and Infrastructure, said it was a great result for the VFL.

“We are thrilled to be expanding the broadcast coverage of the Smithy’s VFL. This a wonderful result and will bolster the exposure of the competition right across the country,” Chun said.

“The new broadcast deal demonstrates our ongoing commitment to providing football fans with high-quality and accessible coverage and we look forward to working with Kayo SPORTS, ABC, the Seven Network and SEN to deliver an exciting product for all viewers.

“We are delighted our existing AFL and AFLW broadcast partners in Kayo SPORTS, Seven and SEN have extended their coverage to the VFL and we are just as excited to expand our partnership with the ABC, who is an existing radio and international broadcast partner of the AFL.

“The Seven Network will continue as a VFL broadcast partner for a 12th season in a relationship that extends back to 2015, while Foxtel returns having last broadcast VFL matches during in 2021.

“The return of the ABC as a VFL broadcast partner for the first time since 2014 also marks an exciting new chapter in a relationship that previously spanned 27 years when the ABC served as the host broadcaster of the VFA/VFL.”

VFL games are still expected to continue to be streamed on the AFL's platforms.

See the 2026 VFL fixture HERE.