In a major step forward for cricket’s American expansion, Channel 7 has secured exclusive Australian broadcast rights to the 2025 Major League Cricket (MLC) season, with every match to stream live and free on 7plus Sport.
Seven Network to air all 34 MLC matches live and free
The Seven Network will broadcast the entire 2025 Major League Cricket season, including all 34 matches live and free via 7plus Sport. The tournament Final will also air on 7mate, expanding access to one of the fastest-growing leagues in global T20 cricket.
“Major League Cricket is the next frontier for the sport, and we cannot wait to deliver every ball to fans across Australia,” said Joel Starcevic, Head of Cricket at Seven. “Like any American sporting product, it’s going to be massive.”
Major League Cricket is coming to 7plus on a MULTI-YEAR deal ‼️
ALL 34 matches will be broadcast live and free on 7plus Sport from Friday 13 June. pic.twitter.com/XgSZTmTwbl
— 7Cricket (@7Cricket) June 6, 2025
Fans can watch matches throughout the Australian winter, with early morning start times ideal for breakfast viewing or a second screen at work. The 2025 season kicks off on Friday, June 13, with a marquee opener between the San Francisco Unicorns and Washington Freedom.
Aussie stars headline 2025 Major League Cricket season
The MLC’s third season will showcase a record number of Australian cricketers on U.S. soil, including Steve Smith, Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, David Warner, Mitch Marsh, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Cooper Connolly, Xavier Bartlett, Jason Behrendorff, Mitchell Owen, and more.
Washington Freedom, the defending champions, will be led by Ricky Ponting and feature Smith, Maxwell, Behrendorff, and Owen. Cooper Connolly, following a breakout Big Bash and international debut, joins the San Francisco Unicorns for his first overseas franchise stint.
“Aussie cricket fans are in for a treat,” Starcevic added. “Whether it’s Steve Smith leading the Freedom or Warner and Stoinis lighting it up for LA, there’s no shortage of star power in this league.”
Seven’s strategic push into international T20 cricket
Seven sees this exclusive deal as part of a long-term strategic plan to expand its cricket coverage beyond the domestic season. According to Renée Quirk, Seven’s Commercial Director of Sport, the MLC fills a key gap in winter programming and aligns with the network’s year-round cricket content strategy.
“We’re excited to add Major League Cricket to 7plus Sport, offering fans a new and exciting competition during the off-season,” said Quirk. “This partnership sets the stage for a blockbuster Ashes summer ahead.”
“Every match will be live and free on 7plus, with the Final also on 7mate—showcasing a new generation of cricketing talent to Australian audiences.”
MLC’s international ambitions continue to grow
For Major League Cricket, the deal with Channel 7 is a major endorsement of the league’s rising global profile. With teams based in Dallas, San Francisco, New York City, Seattle, Los Angeles, and Washington D.C., MLC is positioning itself as a serious player in the international T20 calendar.
“This agreement is a strong signal of our growing reach,” said MLC CEO Johnny Grave. “Working with a top-tier broadcaster in a cricket-loving country like Australia validates the world-class talent in this year’s competition.”
The partnership comes at a time when interest in U.S. cricket is at an all-time high, with the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup co-hosted in the U.S. earlier this year. The deal gives Australian viewers front-row access to the latest phase of cricket’s global evolution—live, free, and in prime morning slots.
