Channel 7 - TV shows, news, and sports streaming for free in Australia

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The Seven Network, commonly referred to as Channel 7, maintains its standing as the highest rated television network in Australia through several flagship programs, news broadcasts, and coverage of unmissable sports like AFL, Test cricket, LIV Golf, and Olympics. Combining all that it offers, Channel 7 is the epitome of good TV.

What is Channel 7?

Channel 7 started as a group of independent stations in the 1950s. After several transitions and progressions brought by new partnerships, the Australian Television Network was formed in 1963. Consisting of its original stations, ATN-7 and HSV-7, ADS-7 Adelaide and BTQ-7 Brisbane later came on board and in 1970, became officially called the Network 7. It saw more changes throughout the years before it became the now prevalent Seven Network.

Channel 7’s evolution (as part of Seven West Media) consisted of internal changes, technological milestones, content partnerships, and identity history before going on to becoming one of Australia’s main TV networks. A whole new level of television content is being provided by the network and its sister channels, 7two, 7mate, 7flix, as well as the catch-up online streaming service, 7plus.

Continuing on its market-leading innovations, Channel 7 will also launch new virtual channels this year. With a fresh line-up of more exclusive content, these soon-to-debut channels will allow Australians to better connect with their next favourite program with 7plus mining Seven’s cloud-based program library to produce virtual, live streaming pop-up channels. It will be powered by a new technology, Channel 7 being the first in the Asia-Pacific region to adopt and integrate it into its already-advanced broadcasting platform.

Unlike streaming platforms, 7 makes the majority of its profits from commercial breaks and advertising.

How to watch Channel 7

Gaining access to Channel 7’s live programming is as easy as just switching to this particular channel, as long as the required aerial is already connected to your TV. To stream Channel 7 shows on the 7plus app, you’ll need a compatible device and an internet connection. The catch-up streaming app also works fine on several compatible devices, including Apple TV, Telstra TV, Android TV, Chromecast, Sony Linux TV and many other devices.To find out more about the 7plus user experience read our 7plus review.

How to stream Channel 7 free – 7 Plus app

The latest version of the Seven Network’s catch-up TV service, 7plus, offers some much-needed freshness to what was one of the earliest free-to-air services offered by an Australian broadcasters. Launched in 2017 to replace PLUS7, an earlier iteration of the online platform owned by the Seven Network and Yahoo!, it offers on demand episodes of TV shows and also serves as a live streaming service that gains you access to all the networks channels (Seven, 7two, 7mate, 7flix, and Racing.com).

What shows are on Channel 7?

A lot more exclusive content is set to arrive this year from Seven and its live channels, further expanding the network’s authority. Viewers can look forward to exclusive international versions of major reality titles, including Big Brother Canada, The Voice US, SAS UK: Who Dares Wins, and Celebrity SAS UK: Who Dares Wins. Huge sporting events – Olympic Winter Games Beijing and the XXII Commonwealth Games – are amongst Channel 7’s highly anticipated television events as well.

What’s new on Channel 7

For the latest episodes of your favourite local and international shows, every TV show on Channel 7 can be streamed on demand via their free catch-up on demand service, 7plus. To discover every show that’s scheduled to air on Channel 7 daily, check out this Channel 7 TV guide to start exploring both live TV and on demand content.

Reality shows

Amongst the extensive Seven Network TV shows are heaps of popular reality series with the likes of Top Chef, The Real Housewives: Ultimate Girls Trip, The Voice, Big Brother, SAS Australia, Chase Australia and Farmer Wants A Wife. Channel 7 is also the home of Australia’s Got Talent, Australian Idol, and Fantasy Island – basically every reality series that reels in TV viewers.

Hottest dramas

Thanks to its content partnerships with international media companies, Seven Network also adds more compelling TV series such as the popular action thrillers Prison Break and Chicago Fire, as well as the binge-worthy dramas Smash, One Tree Hill, and Scandal. Local exclusive content includes the long-running soap opera, Home and Away and Blue Heelers, as well as the much loved Border Security.

Comedy favourites

More than drama, Channel 10 also offers a bunch of hilarious programs for easy viewing. Comedies include Shameless, Rescue Me, Rake, Red Band Society, Modern Family, What About Brian, and so many more.

Free movies

Channel 7 and its catch up streaming service 7plus offers heaps of classics that everyone in the family can enjoy, with the likes of the original Jumanji, Petter Rabbit and its sequel. For dramas, you can watch titles like The Butler, The Green Mile, The Immigrant, We Were Soldiers, and the classic Dirty Dancing.

Sport on Channel 7

The Seven Network is a big name when it comes to purchasing Australian sports broadcasting rights. Starting 2016, Channel 7 boasts sports coverage of the Winter Olympic Games, and Summer Paralympic Games. Other sports you can watch on Channel 7 include the AFL, Cricket, Supercars, and LIV Golf. To make sure you don’t miss any major sports, Channel 7 has a comprehensive TV guide for any information you might need on a particular sporting event.

Current affairs and documentaries

Channel 7 has a solid current affairs programming and these are news programs that are already embedded into the psyche of every Australian. Some of the prominent ones include Sunrise, The Morning Show, Weekend Sunrise, Seven Morning News, Seven Afternoon News, and of course, Seven News.

Channel 7 channels

Within the channel network, there are quite a few different channels each with a different content purpose.

Channel	Shows
7mate	International adventure-filled reality programs likes of Meteorite Men, Swamp People, and Outback Truckers. Sports content – Winter Olympic Games.
7two	Comedy – It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia. Classic top dramas – Charlie’s Angels, Miami Vice and Baywatch. Documentaries – America’s Hardest Prisons.
7flix	You can expect an assortment of drama, comedy, reality TV, and movies with 7flix. Shows – Cougar Town, Once Upon a Time, and The Mindy Project Comedies – Modern Family, How I Met Your Mother, and Married… with Children

How much are Channel 7’s TV Channels?

You can stream and watch Channel 7 shows for free without having to worry about monthly subscriptions or contracts since the network generates its income via ads. Even access to its catch-up streaming TV app, 7plus, is completely free. All you need to do to access Channel 7’s extensive line-up of content is to have the right equipment for it, such as an antenna and a digital TV. For streaming online, requirements include a compatible device (mobile, PC or streaming boxes) and an internet connection.

How does Channel 7 compare with other services?

Channel 7’s exclusive TV content and coverage of major sporting events makes for a distinct offering that viewers won’t find in other networks. Having a range of must-have broadcast services that otherwise can’t be accessed for free elsewhere, like the Olympic Games, Seven holds a dominant card in the free to air network contention.

How does Channel 7 compare to Channel 9?

Channel 9 is Channel 7’s greatest rival with both networks having similar authority and influence in terms of content quality and diversity of their offerings. While Channel 9 is a formidable competitor as far as television ratings are concerned, Channel 7 holds its own with a collection of popular reality series that includes the Australian iterations of global smash hit shows The Voice, Big Brother, and The Chase. In sports, Channel 7 has AFL, BBL, and Supercars to match Channel 9’s NRL.

How does Channel 7 compare to Channel 10?

Both networks have a strong focus in producing local content: Channel 7 has Australia’s Got Talent, The Voice Australia, and Big Brother Australia. On the other hand, Channel 10 has some titles that most viewers specifically want like MasterChef Australia and Australian Survivor.

When it comes to current affairs, Channel 7 leads with several flagship news programs. Both also have a variety of international content with Ten’s catalogue of shows mostly coming from its deals with ViacomCBS while Channel 7 sources its foreign content from several entertainment giants like 20th Century Studios, Warner Bros. and Sony Pictures.

How does Channel 7 compare to ABC?

ABC provides top-quality local dramas and comedies that include Fires, Pine Gap, Jack Irish, The Newsreader, and Preppers. There is several international TV content as well, however; ABC is often characterised by its selection of Australian content. That’s why Channel 7 still leads in the content department because they both have a popular catalogue (and in substantial variety) of both local and international entertainment. Sports-wise, ABC also doesn’t have anything huge compared to Channel 7’s Olympic Games and AFL.

How does Channel 7 compare to SBS?

Since SBS has a strong focus in delivering international shows, documentaries and movies, both independent and mainstream, it’s easy to set them apart when it comes to content. There’s still plenty of mainstream shows on SBS, such as Why Women Kill, The X-Files, Narcos, and Shortland Street, but by and large, Channel 10’s content is not as abundant as Channel 7’s. However, if you’re looking for a diversified catalogue of series, docos and films, SBS has it covered with lots of shows and movies from Europe and other parts of the world.

How does Channel 7 compare with Netflix and Prime Video?

Streaming services are in constant competition with each other with the likes of Netflix and Amazon Prime providing thousands of hours of shows and movies, ad-free. Despite this massive change in the way people watch content, free to air networks in Australia have also been stepping up their games.

If you’re someone who just wants to watch some dramas or crime shows, catch up on evening news, enjoy reality TV and live streaming of select sports, catch up services offered by free to air networks are great alternatives and the best part is they’re completely free!

How does Channel 7 compare to Foxtel?

Foxtel has exclusive broadcasting rights to release HBO content in Australia and that’s something that Channel 7 can’t compete with as a free-to-air network. Foxtel also has its own programming that’s not available elsewhere, except associated services like Foxtel Now and BINGE. Foxtel Originals include Love Me, Colin from Accounts, Wentworth, Upright, The End, and The Twelve.

Meanwhile, Foxtel screens popular HBO shows and offers complete boxsets of massive programs like Game of Thrones, The Sopranos, and Sex and the City. Still, Channel 7 doesn’t shy away from delivering big shows and events. The Voice and Australia’s Got Talent, for instance, are some of Seven’s huge TV events that continue to reel in viewers.

Do I need to sign up to watch Channel 7

If you’re in Australia, you’re not required to sign up to access Seven Network TV shows. Simply connect your digital TV to an antenna and you can watch every Channel 7 content for free. For accessing the catch up TV Channel 7 platform we now know as 7plus, you can either head over to the 7plus website on your computer and start streaming or get the 7plus app on your mobile to stream Channel 7 shows or sports anywhere.

Channel 7 Review – A great mix of sports, drama and reality TV

The selection of Seven Network TV shows range from TV dramas, sports, reality programs, current affairs, movies, racing, and even home shopping. Almost everything you need from your TV is provided by the network and for free. With the creation of the 7plus app, you even enjoy every content available on several supported devices even when you’re on the go.

Furthermore, the success of the Tokyo Olympic Games, SAS Australia, The Voice, Farmer Wants A Wife, Big Brother, and Home and Away majorly contributed to 7plus taking the lead among commercial free-to-air catch up services, as well as ranking highly during ratings season.

With its continuous growth in content and technological developments, it’s no surprise that Channel 7 is Australia’s most-watched network.

What people are asking about Channel 7