Aussie cricket fans get huge win as Seven announces blockbuster deal
The Seven Network on Friday announced it has secured a multi-year deal for the exclusive rights to America's Major League Cricket (MLC) tournament in Australia, with all 34 T20matches to be broadcast live and free on 7plus Sport.
Now in its third year, the top American T20 competition has attracted a number of international superstars, including Australians Xavier Bartlett, Jason Behrendorff, Cooper Connolly, Jack Edwards, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Mitchell Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Mitchell Owen, Steve Smith, Matthew Short, Marcus Stoinis and David Warner.
Former Australian captain and 7Cricket commentator, Ricky Ponting, is also the head coach of Washington Freedom.
MLC is the first professional T20 cricket league in the United States, with Australian talent competing alongside America's best domestic talent from Dallas, San Francisco, New York City, Seattle, Los Angeles and Washington D.C.
'We're thrilled to be expanding our cricket footprint with the addition of Major League Cricket to 7plus Sport, offering fans a new and exciting competition to follow through winter,' Seven's Commercial Director of Sport Renée Quirk said.
'It's a natural extension of our cricket story after a blockbuster Indian summer, and it sets the stage perfectly as we build towards a huge Ashes summer ahead.
'This partnership with MLC is just the beginning of a multi-year journey. We're proud to offer live and free coverage of the competition, with every match on 7plus Sport and the Final simulcast on 7mate and 7plus Sport, helping expose a new wave of talent and excitement to Aussie fans,' she said.
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Seven's Head of Cricket, Joel Starcevic, said: 'Major League Cricket is the next frontier for the sport and we cannot wait to deliver every ball to fans across Australia, live, free and exclusively on 7plus Sport.
'Like any American sporting product, it's going to be massive, and we're thrilled to bring all 34 games to Australian viewers as we count down to an unbelievable Summer of Cricket on Seven and 7plus Sport.
'Aussie cricket fans are in for a real treat with a talent-packed local contingent lighting up Major League Cricket. Steve Smith, Glenn Maxwell, Mitchell Owen and Jason Behrendorff are all lining up for the defending champions, Washington Freedom, under the leadership of none other than Ricky Ponting,.
'They will also face a host of other big Aussie names, including David Warner, Marcus Stoinis and Mitch Marsh, alongside global superstars like Rashid Khan and Quinton de Kock. It's a world-class line-up.
'Whether you're tuning in with your morning coffee or setting up a second screen at work, Major League Cricket is the perfect companion for Aussie fans this winter.'
The tournament kicks off on Friday 13 June 2025, with San Francisco Unicorns taking on Washington Freedom from 9.00am AEST.
All matches will be streamed live and free on 7plus Sport, with the final broadcast live on 7mate on Monday 14 July.
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