Day: March 7, 2025

The ABC and the AFL are delighted to announce an extension of our partnership for audio rights to the AFL and AFLW for the next 3 years while launching the ABC’s 2025 season coverage plans.

The agreement will provide audiences with live audio coverage of every AFL match and select AFLW matches for the next 3 years across ABC local radio and on ABC listen.

In 2025, retired AFL umpire ‘Razor’ Ray Chamberlain will join our Saturday Afternoon coverage to give his unique take on all things umpiring with former Hawk and Port Adelaide player Chad Wingard joining us as an expert across the season.

Returning this year are Corbin Middlemas, Clint Wheeldon, Quentin Hull, Matt Clinch, Ben Cameron, Brett Sprigg, Mitch Turner, Aaron Bryans, Chris Rowbottom and Lauren Bordin to provide play by play coverage of every AFL game.

Hosted by Corbin Middlemas, Ben Cameron and Poppy Penny joined by Paul Roos, AFL Daily will bring you your daily dose of AFL conversation with context and depth beyond the headlines. The program kicked off on Monday 3 March covering all the news from pre-season preparations and coverage throughout the premiership season to the grand final in September.

Content Director ABC SPORT, Tim Verrall said: “We’re delighted to lock in a further 3 years with the AFL. In 2025 we’re increasing our commitment to local game coverage in our footy mad cities across Australia, bringing audiences the news, analysis and coverage of the game most relevant to them.”

AFL Executive General Manager of Finance, Clubs and Infrastructure, Matthew Chun said: “The priority of the AFL was to provide fans with quality content and unrivalled free access to footy across radio platforms.

“Our radio partners will service more AFL and AFLW fans across the nation than ever before. It is important to us that our fans are able to consume live football all weekend, particularly when they aren’t able to get to a game.

“We want all Australians to have the best possible match experience on any platform of their choice, and we are proud to be partnering with the ABC and thank them for their continued support and commitment to delivering unparalleled content for our fans.”

ABC Perth welcomes former Fremantle captain Peter Bell back to the airwaves calling games in the West. Peter will also join WA Sports Talk each Saturday on ABC Radio Perth.

In Adelaide we welcome radio and TV legend Mark Soderstrom along with Tom Wilson to our call team alongside Aaron Bryans.

The ABC continues to have an unmatched schedule of experts to inform our coverage including Marc Murphy, Brett Deledio, Mick Malthouse, Sharrod Wellingham, Cameron Ling, Ebony Marinoff, Luke Ball, Bob Murphy, Adam Ramanauskas, Scott Thompson,  Nathan Burke, Kerryn Peterson, Rod Jameson, Josh Francou, Dean Brogan, Shane Woewodin, Kara Antonio, Jason Akermanis, Matthew Primus, Ryan O’Keefe, Jeff White, Tadhg Kennelly, Jason Saddington and many more former stars of the game.

 

SCA and the AFL have announced a new three-year partnership that will see every game, of every round, delivered live to fans on Triple M and LiSTNR throughout the 2025, 2026 and 2027 AFL seasons.

The agreement cements SCA as the go-to destination for AFL fans. LiSTNR and the Triple M network’s radio stations around Australia will deliver more than 850 hours of live match coverage per season. This unparalleled coverage will be enhanced by greater integration of AFL-related content within SCA’s flagship shows and across Triple M and LiSTNR’s digital assets, as well as increased editorial support in key AFL development markets in Sydney, Brisbane and the Gold Coast.

With commentary teams on the ground in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth, SCA will deliver unparalleled footy coverage to bring fans closer to the action. Led by an experienced team of footy’s finest voices, the team will provide expert insights, banter and top-tier analysis. Fans can also look forward to unique access to players for pre and post match interviews during the season, establishing a premier destination for footy fans.

SCA continues its commitment to supporting AFLW, with extensive coverage of the competition, including finals, while creating pathways for players off the field. The introduction of an annual AFLW internship will provide invaluable learning opportunities for a player with aspirations of a broadcasting career, furthering SCA’s dedication to elevating women’s football both on and off the air.

SCA CEO John Kelly said: “Southern Cross Austereo is proud to extend our partnership with the AFL, reaffirming SCA’s position as Australia’s leading AFL audio broadcaster. As the season begins tonight, we’re excited to continue delivering the most passionate, insightful, and entertaining footy coverage across Triple M and LiSTNR. Our long-standing relationship with the AFL allows us to bring fans closer to the game they love, and we look forward to another incredible season of footy.”

AFL Executive General Manager of Finance, Clubs and Infrastructure, Matthew Chun, said: “The priority of the AFL was to provide fans with quality content and unrivalled free access to footy across radio platforms. Our radio partners will service more AFL and AFLW fans across the nation than ever before. It is important to us that our fans are able to consume live football all weekend, particularly when they aren’t able to get to a game.

“We want all Australians to have the best possible match experience on any platform of their choice, and we are proud to be partnering with Southern Cross Austereo and thank them for their continued support and commitment to delivering unparalleled content for our fans.”

Triple M holds the top spot as the #1 AFL station in Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth, while also building a strong following in the emerging markets of Sydney and Brisbane. With Australia’s most loved game continuing to thrive, this partnership guarantees that AFL fans won’t miss a moment of the action – whether they’re listening at home, on the go, or on LiSTNR.

This agreement showcases SCA’s enduring dedication to connecting fans with the game they love, while paving the way for exciting developments across the AFL and AFLW landscapes.

About Southern Cross Austereo

Southern Cross Austereo (SCA) is one of Australia’s leading media companies and the home of LiSTNR, the Hit and Triple M networks, and regional television stations, reaching more than 95% of the Australian population. The LiSTNR digital audio app hosts a library of free and compelling digital audio content available anytime, anywhere. It houses SCA’s 104 FM, AM, and DAB+ radio stations, including AFL, NRL, and international cricket coverage, 43 music genre stations, and over 700 podcasts from leading Australian and global creators, plus local news and information. With more than two million signed-in users, LiSTNR has something to entertain, inform, and inspire all Australians and helps advertisers connect with highly engaged, addressable audiences. The LiSTNR digital audio sales network reaches an estimated eight million people each month.

SCA owns 104 radio stations across FM, AM, and DAB+ under the Triple M and Hit network brands and provides national sales representation for 49 regional radio stations, with 8.71 million listeners across the Hit and Triple M networks. SCA also provides Australian sales representation for global open audio platform SoundCloud and Sonos Radio.

www.southerncrossaustereo.com.au.