7mate

7mate is the second channel in the Seven Network family, and that second child energy is real. It's scrappier, louder, and more willing to throw a rerun of an 80s action movie at prime time. The schedule skews male, with AFL, motorsport, and US reality shows like Shark Tank and Border Security filling slots. That's not a criticism; there's a certain honesty to a channel that doesn't pretend to be premium. What catches you off guard is the comedy block on weeknights, which throws in classic Australian sitcoms you've forgotten about. The ad breaks are relentless, typical of free-to-air, but if you're after a background TV companion, it works. To catch 7mate live, you don't need an antenna anymore. You can watch 7mate online via Tvivu, which means the same schedule wherever you are. It's General TV Australia in the rawest sense: unpolished, dependable, and occasionally weird. For a visitor, it's a genuine window into the country's mainstream viewing habits, without the pretensions of streaming culture.