Seven secures rights to US T20 Major League Cricket

Seven has signed a multi-year, exclusive Australian rights deal for America’s Major League Cricket, a T20 competition in its third season this year.

A scene from the MLC 2024 final.

MLC is the first professional T20 league in the US. It runs a lightning season in the Southern Hemisphere winter, allowing Australian professionals to play.

Squad lists include Glenn Maxwell, Steve Smith, Mitchell Marsh and David Warner. Former Australian captain Ricky Ponting also coaches one of the six MLC teams.

Seven did not specify how many years the deal would run for or how much the deal was worth.

MLC is designed to appeal to subcontinental communities in the US, but judging by its social media output it is also hoping to convert Americans without cricket experience. A Facebook video from MLC includes advice to watch out for flying balls and return the ball to the players if you catch it in the crowd.

Each of the 34 MLC matches will be streamed on 7plus, with the final simulcast on the 7mate broadcast channel.

“It’s a natural extension of our cricket story after a blockbuster Indian summer, and it sets the stage perfectly as we build towards a huge Ashes summer ahead,” Seven’s Commercial Director, Sport, Renée Quirk, was quoted as saying in a press release.

The first match, San Francisco Unicorns vs Washington Freedom, is scheduled for next Friday (June 13).