Exclusive, live and free on Seven and 7plus Sport
January 20, 2025 -- The Seven Network today announced it has secured the exclusive rights to Australia’s tour of Sri Lanka, set to air live and free on Seven and 7plus Sport from Wednesday, 29 January.
In a coup for Australian cricket fans, every ball of the Series, which includes two Test matches and two One Day Internationals, will be seen on Seven and 7plus Sport.
Seven Network Head of Cricket, Joel Starcevic, said: “What this summer has shown us is that Australians absolutely love their cricket, and we cannot wait to deliver even more action as Australia takes on Sri Lanka.
“Following an exhilarating Border-Gavaskar Trophy Series, two of the greatest WBBL and BBL seasons in recent history and the intensity of the current Women’s Ashes Series on home soil, the addition of Australia’s tour of Sri Lanka cements Seven and 7plus Sport as the undisputed home of cricket.
“Before we head to Sri Lanka to witness Steve Smith claim his 10,000th Test run as he captains the Aussie side, this weekend marks a thrilling conclusion to the BBL regular season, setting the stage for a nail-biting race to the Final on Monday, 27 January,” he said.
“But it doesn’t stop there. Adding to the smorgasbord of live and free cricket action, our nation’s most loved team, the Australian women’s cricket team, will face England in a historic Ashes Test at the hallowed MCG over four epic days from Thursday, 30 January, following today’s final ODI and three T20Is.
“There has never been a more exciting time to be a cricket fan in Australia, and you can catch every ball from every BBL Final, the Women’s Ashes and the Australian tour of Sri Lanka live and free on Seven and 7plus Sport – the only place to see it all,” Mr Starcevic said.
In brief
Seven Network says it has secured exclusive broadcast rights to Australia’s tour of Sri Lanka, with coverage scheduled to begin Wednesday, 29 January, on Seven and 7plus Sport. The tour includes two Test matches and two One Day Internationals, and the company says every ball will be available live and free across its services. Seven’s announcement places the tour alongside its coverage of the Women’s Ashes and the Big Bash League finals. Cricket Australia CEO Nick Hockley welcomed the opportunity for Australian viewers to watch the team again soon after the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series. Seven’s commercial sport director said the Sri Lanka tour will be the men’s team’s final Test before the World Test Championship Final.
Key takeaways
- Seven Network says it has secured exclusive rights to Australia’s tour of Sri Lanka.
- Coverage is scheduled to start 29 January on Seven and 7plus Sport.
- The tour comprises two Test matches and two One Day Internationals.
- Seven also highlighted its coverage of the Women’s Ashes and Big Bash League finals.
Cricket Australia Chief Executive Officer, Nick Hockley said: “The Border-Gavaskar Trophy series captivated the nation this summer with record crowds and viewership. It’s great that Australian fans will be able to watch the team again so soon in what is sure to be another compelling series in Sri Lanka.”
Seven Network Commercial Director – Sport, Renee Quirk, said: “As the Australian side takes on their final Test before the World Test Championship Final, Seven will be there to deliver every moment to passionate Australian fans at home.
“With the Women’s Ashes already off to a fiery start, Aussie viewers are in for an absolute treat when the Series culminates in a historic Ashes Test at the MCG, with every ball live and free on Seven and 7plus Sport.
“With multi-channel access across broadcast and digital on any device, Australian viewers can ensure they don’t miss a moment of the Women’s Ashes and men’s Australia v Sri Lanka Series as an epic Summer of Cricket draws to a close on Seven and 7plus Sport,” she said.
For more information, please contact:
Emma Francis
Senior Publicist, Sport
M: 0415 721 413 P: 03 9697 7763
E: [email protected]
Neil Shoebridge
M: 0417 511 012
E: [email protected]
About the Seven Network
The Seven Network is part of Seven West Media (ASX: SWM), one of Australia’s most prominent media companies, with a market-leading presence in content production across broadcast television, publishing and digital. The Seven Network alone reaches about 17 million people a month.
The company owns some of Australia’s most renowned media businesses, including the Seven Network and its affiliate channels 7two, 7mate, 7flix and 7Bravo; the digital platform 7plus; 7NEWS.com.au; The West Australian; The Sunday Times; PerthNow; The Nightly; and Streamer. The Seven Network is home to Australia’s most loved news, sport and entertainment programming, including 7NEWS, 7NEWS Spotlight, Sunrise, The Morning Show, The Voice, Home and Away, Australian Idol, My Kitchen Rules, SAS Australia, Farmer Wants A Wife, The Chase Australia, Better Homes and Gardens, RFDS, The 1% Club and the TV WEEK Logie Awards. Seven Network is also the broadcast partner of the AFL, Cricket Australia and Supercars.
If you detect any issues, problems, or errors in this press release content, kindly contact [email protected] to notify us (it is important to note that this email is the authorized channel for such matters, sending multiple emails to multiple addresses does not necessarily help expedite your request). We will respond and rectify the situation in the next 8 hours.
Questions around this news
Where can Australian viewers watch the Australia tour of Sri Lanka?
The release says the tour will be shown live and free on Seven and 7plus Sport, with coverage beginning Wednesday, 29 January. It states that every ball of the series will be available across those services, which offer broadcast and digital access.
What matches are included in Australia’s tour of Sri Lanka?
The series comprises two Test matches and two One Day Internationals. The release says every ball will be shown live and free on Seven and 7plus Sport, but it does not provide individual match dates or start times.
What does exclusive broadcast rights mean for a cricket series?
Exclusive broadcast rights give a broadcaster permission to show specified coverage within an agreed territory or through agreed channels, while preventing other parties from showing the same coverage under those terms. The scope can depend on the contract, including the events covered, platforms, and whether rights are live, delayed, or highlights-only.
What is the World Test Championship?
The World Test Championship is an international competition in which participating national teams earn points through Test series during a competition cycle. Teams’ results determine qualification for a final, where the leading sides compete for the championship. The release refers to Australia’s Sri Lanka tour as its final Test before the final.
