The Seven Network has secured the broadcast rights for Australia’s upcoming tour of Sri Lanka, just 12 days before the first Test begins. Australian cricket fans were at risk of missing the two Tests and two ODIs, as no network had previously acquired the rights for the series. However, Seven, which already broadcasts home Tests, women’s internationals, and the Big Bash League, will air the entire tour on their free-to-air stations and the 7plus app. The first Test, starting January 29 in Galle, will overlap with the day-night Women’s Ashes Test at the MCG.
Seven’s head of cricket, Joel Starcevic, expressed excitement about delivering more cricket action to Australian fans, stating, “What this summer has shown us is that Australians absolutely love their cricket.”
This is the first non-Ashes full overseas men’s Test tour shown on free-to-air TV in Australia since 1997, when Mark Taylor’s team played in South Africa. The last Test series not broadcast in Australia was during Pakistan’s 1994 tour. In 2023, Seven also aired the World Test Championship final between Australia and India at The Oval.
For years, Foxtel held the exclusive rights to Australia’s overseas matches, including their 2022 Test series in Sri Lanka. However, Foxtel has not regularly broadcasted Test series from Sri Lanka not involving Australia and does not have a long-term agreement with Sri Lanka. DAZN, a British sports streaming platform, is in the process of acquiring Foxtel, though the sale will not finalize until mid-2025.
Meanwhile, Amazon has secured the rights to ICC events from 2024 to 2027, including this year’s WTC final, though they have yet to broadcast bilateral series in Australia.
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