Fox Footy barred from AFL grand final at the MCG as Seven holds exclusive rights

The AFL’s grand final on September 27 will be staged with Seven’s exclusive rights to televise the premiership decider, leaving Fox Footy barred from the MCG on game day. Under the league’s broadcast framework, Seven has the sole live rights to the final, while Fox Footy can show every other match during the season. That arrangement means Fox’s on-air team will not be allowed inside the stadium for the decider, and the network is expected to call the match from a remote studio instead.

Fox Footy had reportedly sought permission to use a ground-level commentary booth and air the game later from a South Melbourne studio, but the contract blocks any Fox presence inside the stadium on September 27. The only way a compromise could emerge would be if Seven agreed to a goodwill arrangement, which is considered unlikely given the legal terms. As a result, the Fox Footy team, including prominent analysts and former players, will likely call the match remotely from a studio in South Melbourne rather than live from the action at the MCG.

Over the years, the rights dispute has become a talking point among fans and the broadcasting teams. Veteran commentator Brian Taylor has in the past teased Fox Footy for broadcasting from studios rather than being ground-side, and this season he continued to reference the arrangement in remarks linked to games at preeminent venues. The exchanges have fed into a broader narrative about where the most valuable football moments should be captured for audiences.

Seven’s approach to the broadcast is underlined by its insistence that on-site perspective can help deliver a stronger call. Seven’s director of sport Chris Jones defended BT’s on-ground access, saying that having the caller near players and working the ground gives him the best chance to present the match with immediacy and context.

In the months leading up to the final, the public discourse also included a high-profile exchange in Melbourne’s Herald Sun. Seven published a full-page advertisement highlighting that it would be present at the ground, a pointed contrast to Fox Footy’s absence on game day.

The AFL’s grand final is the league’s marquee event, and the 2025 schedule places its on-site production squarely in Seven’s orbit. The absence of Fox Footy on the ground comes amid broader changes in the broadcasting landscape, with Fox concentrating on live coverage during the season while Seven secures the crown jewel.

The decision affects presentation and the fan experience, though it does not impact the game’s play on the field. Officials emphasize that the final will be produced to high production standards, even with the broadcast call coming from a different location. The season thus serves as a test case for how the AFL’s broadcast rights balance competition among networks while preserving the league’s commercial interests.