Australian netball fans attempting to follow the national team’s Commonwealth Games campaign have encountered limited linear television access, as the Seven Network chose to relegate live matches to its streaming service while broadcasting swimming heats and syndicated films on broadcast channels, according to reports by ABC News.
Broadcasting Decisions Shift Netball to Streaming
The reigning gold-medallist Diamonds opened their campaign in Glasgow with dominant victories, including a 99-38 win over Tonga and a 66-47 win over England. According to ABC News, neither match aired live on any of Seven Network’s linear television channels. Instead, the fixtures appeared exclusively live on the streaming platform 7Plus. Meanwhile, Seven broadcast swimming heats on its primary channel.
For a prime-time clash against rivals and 2018 champions the Roses, Seven scheduled the 2021 Ryan Reynolds film Free Guy on Mate and the crime drama Vera on channel TWO, rather than carrying the netball live on standard television. The Australia-England match eventually aired on a delayed broadcast on Seven’s main channel only after swimming coverage concluded and the game had already finished.
Player Reactions to Television Scheduling
ABC Sport informed several Diamonds players about the broadcast arrangements following their matches. Goalkeeper Courtney Bruce expressed frustration over the lack of linear television coverage.
“That’s obviously disappointing, obviously we want to be on TV and have every fan able to watch. I wasn’t aware of that,” Bruce told ABC News, adding that she hopes the team features on live television broadcasts in upcoming fixtures.
Did you know? The Diamonds faced intense crowd support in Glasgow, where Australian fans inside the Hydro challenged English supporters for volume and passion, according to on-the-ground reporting by ABC News.
Games debutant Jamie-Lee Price urged supporters to voice their preferences for broadcast scheduling. “I think maybe if we put lots of pressure on maybe we can get there,” Price told ABC News. “I didn’t realise that. We want to be on TV, we want eyes on our sport and if we can get that that’s amazing. So, yes please.”
Network Rationale and Coverage Plans
A Channel Seven spokesperson defended the programming strategy in a statement provided to ABC News. The network explained that simultaneous events during the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games necessitate broad distribution.
“The Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games features multiple events taking place simultaneously, which is why Seven is delivering wall-to-wall coverage across Seven and 7plus Sport — including 15 live channels on 7plus Sport — ensuring Australians can watch every event live and free,” the Channel Seven spokesperson stated.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I watch the Australian Diamonds at the Commonwealth Games?
According to Seven Network, all Diamonds matches are streaming live and free on 7Plus Sport, with select matches appearing on delayed television broadcasts.
Did Seven Network broadcast the Australia vs England netball match live on TV?
Who is the next opponent for the Diamonds?
According to reports from Getty Images and ABC News, the Diamonds’ next match is scheduled against Malawi.
Join the Conversation
How do you prefer watching major sporting events like the Commonwealth Games? Share your thoughts in the comments below or subscribe to our newsletter for daily sports updates.
Keep reading