Australian TV Schedule March 2026

March is one of the most competitive months on Australian television. It sits right in the heart of the autumn ratings period, with major reality franchises holding prime-time real estate, live sport ramping up across AFL and NRL, and subscription platforms deploying tentpole local originals to keep pace.

This March 2026 overview covers the biggest confirmed programming across Australia’s free-to-air networks (Seven, Nine, 10, ABC, SBS) and pay TV providers (Foxtel and BINGE), plus the headline sport and event programming that will dominate viewing habits.

Read more: Australia TV Premieres in March 2026: Must-Watch Highlights, And Day-by-Day Calendar

What’s biggest on Australian TV in March 2026

AFL Opening Round (March 5–8) becomes a national TV event

The AFL’s 2026 fixture confirms Opening Round runs Thursday, March 5 through Sunday, March 8, with marquee matchups including Sydney vs Carlton (March 5) and St Kilda vs Collingwood at the MCG (March 8).

Seven’s AFL coverage also leans into shoulder programming: a Collingwood and St Kilda docuseries is scheduled to air in the week of Opening Round across Seven, 7mate and 7plus Sport.

What this means for viewers:

• Expect prime-time disruption across free-to-air schedules that week as live games take priority.

• Sports-adjacent documentaries and analysis shows will be positioned as lead-ins and wrap-ups around match nights.

NRL Round 1 and early-season momentum (late Feb into March)

The NRL confirms the 2026 season begins with Las Vegas matches (Feb 28 US) before rolling into Round 1 in Australia.
The full 2026 draw PDF shows continuing rounds through March with games carried on Nine/Fox depending on the fixture.

What to watch for in March:

• Thursday and Sunday fixtures frequently appear on Nine/Fox in the draw format, so free-to-air sport remains a major appointment option across the month.

Paralympics coverage begins March 6 on Nine platforms

Nine’s 2026 programming release confirms Paralympics coverage begins March 6 across the 9Network, 9Now and Stan Sport.
That timing makes the first half of March especially crowded with major live events.

Free-to-Air Networks: What to Expect in March 2026

Seven (Channel 7, 7mate, 7plus)

Seven enters March with proven mass-audience entertainment and sport.

Key confirmed pillars shaping March:

• Australian Idol returned on Monday, February 2, and typically remains a major weekly driver into March depending on season length.

• AFL Opening Round (March 5–8) is one of Seven’s biggest schedule anchors of the month.

• Seven’s 2026 slate confirms a heavy focus on returning entertainment brands (including My Kitchen Rules, Farmer Wants A Wife, The Voice, The Front Bar, Better Homes and Gardens, The Chase Australia, and Home and Away).

March viewing takeaway:

• If you watch Seven live in March, expect sport-led weeks early in the month, then a swing back toward reality and established weekly franchises in the remaining weeks.

Nine (Channel 9, 9Now, Stan Sport)

Nine’s March picture is defined by true crime, mega-sport, and ongoing tentpoles.

Confirmed and announced highlights:

• Paralympics coverage begins March 6 across broadcast and streaming platforms.

• Nine has promoted Outback Murder Highway as a significant 2026 investigation-style series, positioned for March in network calendar reporting and upfront coverage.

March viewing takeaway:

• Early March is a live-event sprint for Nine thanks to Paralympics coverage.

• Outback Murder Highway is one of the most notable “new conversation” titles expected to land in this window.

Network 10 (Channel 10, 10Play)

Network 10’s March programming generally centers on returning unscripted brands and imported US franchises, alongside local staples across the week.

What viewers can practically do in March:

• Use 10’s live TV guide to track weekly changes and event-driven reshuffles (10 regularly adjusts by week across March depending on sport and reality cycles).

March viewing takeaway:

• 10 is often the most “week-to-week flexible” network in March. Checking the guide is the best way to follow the real schedule as it shifts.

ABC (ABC TV, ABC iview)

ABC’s March offering is typically strongest for scripted drama, comedy, documentaries and public affairs.

For schedule tracking:

• ABC maintains a rolling TV guide and genre-sortable listings, making it the easiest free-to-air network to follow across the entire month.

March viewing takeaway:

• ABC is the steady option when commercial networks are disrupted by sport and reality marathons.

SBS (SBS, SBS On Demand)

SBS has a clear, confirmed March tentpole: current affairs returns to Tuesday nights from March 3.

Must-watch highlight:

• Insight and Dateline return Tuesday nights from March 3, covering major issues shaping Australia.

March viewing takeaway:

• If you want journalism-led TV in March (instead of reality or sport), SBS Tuesday nights are the simplest “set-and-forget” appointment viewing.

Pay TV and Subscription: Foxtel and BINGE in March 2026

Foxtel (and streaming on BINGE)

One of the clearest confirmed subscription premieres in March is a major local Lifestyle franchise:

• Selling Houses Australia Season 18 premieres Wednesday, March 4 at 8:30pm on Foxtel’s LifeStyle channel, and will stream on BINGE.

The season is positioned as a milestone run (including the show’s 200th episode).

Why it’s a standout:

• Selling Houses is one of Foxtel’s longest-running local formats, and LifeStyle remains one of the strongest “habit channels” for weekly viewing.

Foxtel & BINGE March 2026 Schedule: Selling Houses Australia S18, AFL Opening Round & Full Line-Up Here’s the detailed Foxtel and BINGE March 2026 schedule, including Selling Houses Australia Season 18, AFL Opening Round coverage, NRL fixtures, and key premieres.