Australian commercial broadcaster Seven has bolstered its coverage of the 2015-16 NFL American football league season in the wake of the interest generated by Australian Jarryd Hayne making the final cut for the San Francisco 49ers’ squad.
Former Australian National Rugby League player Hayne tried out for a place on the 49ers roster for the forthcoming campaign and impressed with his pre-season performances. He has now been confirmed on the final 53-man squad and Seven, which holds rights to the NFL under a five-year deal running from 2014-15 to 2018-19, has now elected to step up its coverage.
Seven has said it will show a minimum of 14 49ers games this season as part of a broader package which includes three consecutive games on Sunday, the Super Bowl, NFL Playoffs, the traditional Kickoff game and Thanksgiving matches. Games will be broadcast via digital-terrestrial channel 7mate.
However, Seven’s deal does not include the game in which Hayne may make his debut, against the Minnesota Vikings on September 14. That match is a Monday Night Football encounter – a package of rights which pay-television broadcaster ESPN holds in Australia.
Seven’s first 49ers game is scheduled to be their Week Two clash with the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday, September 20.