The AFL has announced today a three-year rights extension with radio partners SEN, Southern Cross Austereo, Nine Radio, FIVEaa, K rock, and ABC, which will see more free AFL match coverage than ever before across radio platforms, from 2025-2027.

In a win for footy fans, the AFL has maintained rights holders’ access to deliver zero latency calls at AFL venues, meaning AFL fans will be able to experience calls at certain matches with little to no delay, with zero latency calls to be made available on the AFL website and app, as well as the Marvel Stadium app.

The new deal also sees partner rights maintained for digital platforms, with Nine Radio calls now available on the AFL app. Nine Radio will also be making AFL match broadcasts available across the 2GB and 4BC apps for the first time and will have the rights to an additional match per week.

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,” Chun said.

"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 SEN, Southern Cross Austereo, Nine Radio, FIVEAA, K rock, and ABC, and thank them for their continued support and commitment to delivering unparalleled content for our fans."

Sports Entertainment Network CEO, Craig Hutchison, said: "We are incredibly proud to offer fans the opportunity to listen to every single game of the AFL Premiership Season over the coming three seasons, live and free across our network.  Our commitment to providing high-quality, accessible coverage is unwavering, and we look forward to bringing the excitement of the AFL to our listeners throughout the season." 

Southern Cross Austereo 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.”

Managing Director of Nine Radio, Tom Malone, said: “We're proud to be extending our decades long partnership with the AFL; headlining Thursday Nights, returning our award winning commentary to the AFL app, and broadcasting more footy than ever before, while once again leading the way on innovation, with pop up streams for out of state listeners, and appointing radio's first ever dedicated AFLW reporter, to drive interest and engagement in women's footy." 

FIVEAA Station Manager, Craig Munn, said: “We are excited to extend our partnership with the AFL as a radio broadcaster for the 36^th consecutive season and look forward to another excellent season.”

K rock General Manager, Rachel Patterson, said: "As the Cats prepare for another season of footy and we celebrate more than 90 years of K rock/3GL broadcasting VFL/AFL football, we're pleased to be extending our partnership with the AFL.

“Since 1932 we've been proudly parochial and with Geelong premiership player Zach Tuohy joining our call team this season, we continue to live and breathe K rock football in 2025 and beyond.”

ABC SPORT Content Director, Tim Verrall, said: “We’re delighted to lock in a further three 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.”

The 2025 Toyota AFL Premiership Season kicks off tonight when the Sydney Swans host Hawthorn at the SCG from 7.40pm AEDT.