Seven extends deal to broadcast Australian athletics

The Seven Network will remain the home of Australian athletics, announcing a two-year extension to a long-term partnership with Athletics Australia.

Building on the momentum from the success of the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games and the World Under 20 Championships, 7plus Sport will bring the best of the sport into homes across Australia through the network’s live streaming and broadcast video on demand platform.

Streaming exclusively on 7plus will be four of the country’s most prestigious meets from the Chemist Warehouse Australian Summer of Athletics, including Oceania’s one and only World Athletics Continental Tour Gold meet, the Maurie Plant Meet as well as the 2025 Australian Athletics Championships.

Athletics Australia and the Seven Network have been in partnership since 2021, with the media partner playing a significant role in the sport’s continued growth across the country.

“Since the partnership began in 2021, Australian athletics has come a long way and it’s very exciting to have Seven on board as a partner once more as we enter a new era for our sport,” Athletics Australia CEO Simon Hollingsworth said.

“From Cathy Freeman’s win in Sydney 2000 to Nina Kennedy flying to gold in Paris, Australians have long connected with the sport’s greatest moments and we are delighted that this deal will ensure that athletics will continue to be shared and enjoyed by all Australians during this golden era.”

At the helm of the coverage will be the ‘Voice of Athletics’, with 7SPORT commentator Bruce McAvaney bringing to life the stories of the country’s top athletes along with the rest of Seven’s top commentary team, as they lay it all out in stadiums across the country.

While the season will mark the victory tour for the country’s most successful teams, it will also be the launch of a new campaign for many athletes vying for the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo next September and provide a build up for para athletes on the road to the next World Para Athletics Championships.

Following the announcement, McAvaney said: “I can’t remember a more exciting time in Australian Athletics.

“The performance by our team at the World Championships in Budapest in 2023 was surpassed by what happened in Paris just a few months ago and then backed up by an extraordinary result at the World Juniors in Peru,” he said. 

“Our athletes are demanding world attention, and I firmly believe the sport is heading for a golden age.”

Seven Network Commercial Director – Sport, Renee Quirk said: “As we embark on a new era of sports broadcasting with the recent launch of 7plus Sport, we are excited to continue our partnership with Athletics Australia to deliver the biggest track and field events in the country, live and free to all Australians.

“With an on-air team comprised of the greatest voices in world athletics, led by the incomparable Bruce McAvaney, Seven promises to deliver an exceptional broadcast for our biggest meets to fans across every corner of the nation, live and free on 7plus Sport,” she said.

“A passion and genuine investment in sport is at the forefront of everything we do at Seven, and we look forward to connecting our nation’s best athletes with even bigger audiences in 2025 and beyond.”

Seven’s broadcast of the season will commence with the Adelaide Invitational on Saturday, February 15.

MEETS TO BE STREAMED ON 7PLUS SPORT:

Saturday, 15 February:
Adelaide Invitational (World Athletics Continental Tour – Bronze)

Saturday, 1 March:
Perth Track Classic (World Athletics Continental Tour – Bronze)

Saturday, 15 March:
Sydney Track Classic (Word Athletics Continental Tour – Challenger)

Saturday, 29 March:  
Maurie Plant Meet – Melbourne (World Athletics Continental Tour – Gold)

Friday, 4 April – Sunday, 13 April:
2025 Chemist Warehouse Australian Athletics Championships

By Sascha Ryner, Athletics Australia
Posted: 18/11/2024