7mate is an Australian free-to-air digital television multichannel, which was launched by the Seven Network on 25 September 2010. The channel contains sport and regular programs aimed primarily to a male audience, with programming drawn from a combination of new shows, American network shows and other shows previously aired on its sister channels Seven, 7two and 7flix.
Due to the rebroadcast of 7HD on 10 May 2016, 7mate was reduced to a standard definition broadcast in Melbourne and Adelaide. Sydney, Brisbane and Perth instead received a HD simulcast of 7mate until December 2016, with breakaway programming used from that point to broadcast AFL matches in HD while keeping 7HD as the primary channel simulcast.
History The channel began airing as a separate channel on 25 September 2010, replacing 7HD as the Seven Network's only high-definition channel. The channel's first program was the 2010 AFL Grand Final, which was simulcast with an SD broadcast on the Seven Network. Following AFL coverage, the channel began airing breakaway programming, with a promotional sneak peek of upcoming programming on 7mate. The first full program to air was an episode of That '70s Show.
Upon the revival of 7HD on 10 May 2016, 7mate was reduced to standard definition. 7HD became a HD simulcast of Seven's main channel in Melbourne and Adelaide, while it simulcast 7mate in Seven's other metropolitan markets. This configuration allowed upcoming AFL matches to be broadcast in HD in all markets.
7HD was temporarily changed to a simulcast of Seven's primary channel in Sydney, Brisbane and Perth on 5 August 2016 to allow the 2016 Summer Olympics to be broadcast in high definition in all capital cities; leaving 7mate in standard definition only. However, 7HD was reverted to its former state as a 7mate simulcast in Sydney, Brisbane and Perth on 22 August 2016 after the conclusion of the Olympics. On 16 December 2016, 7HD was shifted to a simulcast of Seven's primary channel in Sydney, Brisbane and Perth to allow the Summer of Tennis to be telecast in high definition in all capital cities; leaving 7mate in SD. This change was not reverted, with Seven instead using breakaway programming on 7HD to broadcast AFL matches on 7mate in HD.
In October 2019, Seven promised 7mate would switch to HD by 2020. On 28 December 2019, it was later revealed that a HD simulcast of 7mate would replace 7food network from 16 January 2020.
On 10 July 2020, 7mate unveiled their new logo for the first time since its launch in 2010, effectively making it in line with Seven and 7two, which only used one colour in both of their logos. The outlining from the logo was removed and the word "mate" is now in a different font.
On 6 July 2022, 7mate HD relaunched in regional areas.
On 30 November 2022, 7mate SD on channel 73 went off the air. Going to this version of 7mate would show a message to watch 7mate HD on channel 74 and also mentioning people might need to re-scan their TV. Two weeks later on 14 December 2022, the 7mate retune placeholder disappeared.
Programming The channel is targeting a demographic of 15- to 55-year-old males, after the success of the Seven Network with 7two with females 35+ and 25+ demographics respectively. Programs aired on the channel are a mix of repeated shows that moved from the Seven Network or 7two, programs that would make their free-to-air debut and brand new shows to Australian television. Seven and 7two now target its 55+ demographic.
Shows that moved from other Seven channels include new seasons of Family Guy, American Dad! and The Amazing Race. Repeated seasons of Scrubs, Last Comic Standing, Air Crash Investigations, 30 Rock, That '70s Show, Lost and How I Met Your Mother also moved to 7mate. Mighty Ships, of which three episodes aired as one-off specials on the Seven Network, moved as a regular series to 7mate.
Programs making their free-to-air debut include Eastbound and Down, Monster Garage, Jersey Shore, Gene Simmons Family Jewels and Punk'd. Various series which have debuts on this channel include The Equalizer, Warehouse 13 and Caprica. Additionally, the channel would feature a number of sporting events. From 2012, all AFL matches are broadcast live on 7mate in New South Wales, Australia and Queensland, Australia.
In 2012, the Seven Network introduced new weekday morning blocks of children's programming to air on both 7TWO and 7mate. Branded as K-Zone, the 7mate block featured male-skewing Disney series such as Phineas and Ferb, Kick Buttowski: Suburban Daredevil, Pair of Kings and Zeke and Luther, while the 7TWO block aired female-skewing programs branded as Total Girl.
7mate's local production Bogan Hunters premiered to the channel's highest ratings for a non-sport program on 13 May 2014.
On 29 February 2016, 7mate removed all children's programming from its schedule and moved it to 7flix, replacing it with lifestyle fishing shows.
On 28 February 2018, 7mate started "Animate Your Wednesday", showing Family Guy, and American Dad!. The Simpsons was added to 7mate, after Network 10 joined with CBS in 2017, removing The Simpsons.
on 16 January 2019, Futurama was added to the Animate Your Wednesday lineup on 7mate, returning to the Seven Network as part of a deal with FOX and after a long absence since its final broadcast on Seven in 2004.
On October 16 2020, Regular Old Bogan premiered on 7mate, as part of the "Animate Your Wednesday" block and ran until November 23, 2020 with a double episode special, due to the first season getting wrapped up.
The network also has ongoing content new and classic film and television brands from Sony Pictures and Universal Pictures.
Current programming Adult Animation Family Guy American Dad!
Comedy It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia
Documentary
Catch It Keep It Deadly Down Under MythBusters Ultimate Factories
Lifestyle
Adventure Angler Blokesworld The Last Cast Mark Berg's Fishing Addiction Merv Hughes Fishing My Fishing Place River to Reef The Weekend Prospector
Reality
American Hoggers American Restoration Aussie Salvage Squad Big Rig Bounty Hunters Counting Cars Deadliest Catch Flipping Ships Hardcore Pawn Ice Cold Catch Ice Road Truckers Ink Master Iron Resurrection Jesse James: Outlaw Garage Meteorite Men Outback Truckers Pawn Stars Restoration Garage Swamp People Texas Car Wars Texas Metal
Factual
Air Cops Desert Collectors Highway Patrol Towies
Sport
Australian Football League Big Bash League The Front Bar LPL Pro National Football League NFL 100 Greatest *
Former programming
Adult animation
The Cleveland Show (2022) Futurama (2019–20) Regular Old Bogan The Simpsons (2018–23)
Children's (2012–2016)
A.N.T. Farm (2012–14) Austin & Ally (2013–14, 2016) Crash & Bernstein (2015–16) Dog with a Blog (2014) Fish Hooks (2012–16) Good Luck Charlie (2014) Gravity Falls (2014–16) I Didn't Do It (2015) I'm in the Band (2012–14) Jessie (2016) Kick Buttowski: Suburban Daredevil (2012–16) Kickin' It (2015) Lab Rats (2015) Pair of Kings (2012–15) Phineas and Ferb (2012–15) PrankStars (2013–15) Randy Cunningham: 9th Grade Ninja (2015) Shake It Up (2014) So Random! (2014–15) Star Wars Rebels (2014–16) Stitch! (2012–13) Ultimate Spider-Man (2013–15) Win, Lose or Draw (2015) Zeke and Luther (2012–15)
Preschool (2012–2016)
Art Attack (2013–16) Doc McStuffins (2014–16) Jake and the Never Land Pirates (2012–16) Handy Manny (2012–16) Henry Hugglemonster (2014–16) Mickey Mouse Clubhouse (2014–16) Sheriff Callie's Wild West (2015–16) Sofia the First (2014–16)
Comedy
30 Rock According to Jim The Big Bang Theory Black-ish Chappelle's Show The Chasers War on Everything CNNNN Crank Yankers Crazy Like a Fox Darradong Local Council The Drew Carey Show Eastbound & Down Fat Pizza: Back in Business Gary Unmarried Housos: The Thong Warrior How I Met Your Mother The Jeff Foxworthy Show Just Shoot Me! Malcolm & Eddie Married... with Children McHale's Navy My Name Is Earl My Wife and Kids Ned and Stacey NewsRadio Parks and Recreation Rude Tube Scrubs Seinfeld That '70s Show
Drama
Adam-12 Airwolf Alias Smith and Jones The A-Team Baywatch Boston Legal Buck Rogers in the 25th Century The Cape Caprica Charlie's Angels Covert Affairs The Event The Equalizer FlashForward Hercules: The Legendary Journeys The Incredible Hulk Knight Rider Lost Magnum, P.I. Miami Vice Mickey Spillane's Mike Hammer No Ordinary Family Once Upon A Time Quantum Leap Quincy, M.E. Riptide Rizzoli & Isles The Rockford Files Simon & Simon The Six Million Dollar Man The Sopranos Stargate Atlantis Starsky & Hutch Suits S.W.A.T. (1975 TV series) Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles T.J. Hooker V.I.P. The Virginian Wagon Train Warehouse 13 Xena: Warrior Princess
Documentary
Air Crash Investigations America's Hardest Prisons Bogan Hunters Dream Car Garage Trapped Verminators
Light entertainment
Hook, Line and Sinker Kinne Last Comic Standing ScreenPLAY What Went Down World's Craziest Fools
News and current affairs NBC Meet the Press NBC Today
Reality
The Amazing Race America's Toughest Jobs Auction Kings Aussie Pickers Gene Simmons Family Jewels Is It Real? Jail Jersey Shore Mounted in Alaska Operation Repo Pawn Stars Australia Pimp My Ride Punk'd Wipeout USA (season 2-3)
Sport
Commonwealth Games Rollin' Thunder Shannons Legends of Motorsport SportsFan Clubhouse Summer Olympic Games Winter Olympic Games WWE Afterburn X Games Sydney (2018)
Other
Bid America Big! Building The Ultimate Car Crash TV D.E.A Jetpack Nation The Kingdom Motor Mate NWA: On Fire Project Xtreme Robot Wars Selling Big Style in Steel Turtleman Ultimate Sprintcar Zoom TV
News 7mate airs Seven News updates that air on the main Seven channel and from 7two. All national news updates are across any state.
Sport It was announced on 28 April 2011 that, from 2012 to 2016, 7mate would air a minimum of four live AFL matches each round into the NSW/ACT and Queensland markets, thus going head-to-head with the Nine Network's NRL live coverage on Friday nights.
7mate televises live AFL coverage into New South Wales and Queensland, where rugby league is the more dominant sport, and Western Australia, due to the time difference. Some matches may be televised after midnight, or not shown at all, as the current AFL contract requires the local teams (i.e. Sydney Swans/Greater Western Sydney Giants, Brisbane Lions/Gold Coast Suns and West Coast Eagles/Fremantle Dockers) to be televised live (or, in the case of Western Australia, on a three-hour delay) into their respective states. 7mate was also the exclusive broadcaster of the International Rules Series to Australian audiences.
During the AFL season, the Supercars Championship airs on 7mate in Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth if there are AFL matches being televised at the same time.
7mate also exclusively broadcast all matches of the 2013 Rugby League World Cup.
It was announced in November 2013 that 7mate have picked up the rights to televise the Hopman Cup, after Network Ten decided to discontinue its association with the event after three editions.7mate to serve up Hopman Cup action , The West Australian, 19 November 2013
The 2013–14 LFL Australia season of Legends Football League aired on 7mate.
7mate would broadcast South Australian National Football League games from 2014 as part of the Seven Network's three-year deal to exclusively broadcast the SANFL. After being with the ABC since 1993, this marks the leagues return to commercial television for the first time in 22 years.
On 15 June 2014, it was announced by Reggie Bush on Sunrise that the Seven Network had agreed to a five-year deal to broadcast the NFL. That deal was extended for another three years in 2022.