Thousands of regional South Australians set to lose access to Channel 7 and free-to-air footy on TV

Thousands of regional supporters are set to lose access to Channel 7 and free-to-air football on TV, with some unable to watch AFL at all. Now, fans are pleading for the league to step in.

Regional fans in South Australia won’t be able to watch the footy on free-to-air TV. Picture: Getty Images

The president of Riverland Crows Supporter Group says a looming decision that will result in thousands of footy fans losing access to matches on free-to-air TV is a “kick in the guts” to regional supporters.

As it stands residents in the south-east of the state, Mount Gambier and the Riverland/Mallee area - as well as Griffith in NSW - will no longer have access to Channel 7 channels on their TVs from July 1 after negotiations between the network and WIN broke down.

Independent Legislative Council member Sarah Game has written to AFL boss Andrew Dillon requesting for the league to step in and act as a “circuit-breaker”.

Seven has said residents will still be able to watch AFL and other free to air sport such as cricket, LIV Golf and the Supercars on their streaming platform 7Plus.

Adelaide players with fans from the Riverland Supporters Group. Picture: The Advertiser/ Morgan Sette

But president of the Riverland Crows Supporter Group Peter Marks said this would prevent plenty of fans from watching their team for the rest of the season.

“It will be a real kick in the guts,” he said.

“It will be terrible.”

Renmark resident Helen Shields said while she was lucky enough to have access to Kayo, said this was not the case for others in the area.

Loxton Waikerie mayor Trevor Norton said his region was plagued by severe connectivity issues.

“About half of our population is 50 years and over and even without the potential difficulty for the older part of our community to stream 7Plus... connectivity is a big issue for us,” he said.

“The mood is one of disappointment.”

If there is no agreement reached, the Crows and Power clash later this season will be missed by thousands of fans. Picture: Getty Images

Ms Game said there were issues with the reliance on streaming platform 7Plus.

“We know that connectivity issues in the Riverland and Limestone Coast, plus the fact not everyone has access to a smart TV, nor streaming services, means some locals won’t be able to watch the football, the cricket, and their other favourite Channel 7 shows from July 1,” she said.

“That’s just unfair and discriminatory against rural residents. It’s unacceptable and locals deserve better.”

She said if there wasn’t intervention “our great Australian game will no longer be seen by thousands of fans and supporters, whose only crime is living in regional South Australia”.

“What happens when the next Showdown rolls around on July 26? Are the AFL and the SA Government comfortable with thousands of South Australians not having free-to-air access to this match?” she said.

“What about the AFL grand final? Can you imagine if the Crows make the grand final and people in the South-East and the Riverland can’t watch the match on free-to-air TV?”

Seven has said it was “disappointed” it had not reached an agreement with WIN and it was happy to continue negotiations to broadcast into those markets.

Channel 7 are keen to continue negotiating with WIN. Picture: Getty Images

Ms Game has also written to the State Government.

The league was contacted for comment.

As part of the AFL’s new broadcast deal, 2025 was the first year in which Fox Footy has exclusive access to Saturday games.

For the first eight games all Adelaide and Port Adelaide games were exclusively live on Kayo Sports and Foxtel and shown on free-to-air on delay.

This ended after Round 8, with all Crows and Power games on Saturday for the rest of the year also broadcasted live on Channel 7 in South Australia.

Originally published as Thousands of regional South Australians set to lose access to Channel 7 and free-to-air footy on TV