The Los Angeles Rams and San Francisco 49ers will meet at the MCG, with the Jonas Brothers performing at halftime.

ESPN has expanded its NFL rights package in Australia and New Zealand, adding coverage of the league’s first regular-season game in Australia and extending NFL RedZone’s exclusive run on Disney+.

The Los Angeles Rams will face NFC West rivals the San Francisco 49ers at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Friday, Sept. 11. ESPN and Disney+ will carry a localized broadcast beginning at 8:30 a.m. AEST, with kickoff scheduled for 10:35 a.m.

Up to 100,000 spectators are expected at the MCG for the landmark fixture, which forms part of the opening week of the 2026-27 NFL season.

ESPN’s coverage will include an extended pregame program, local presentation and analysis from its NFL talent. The Jonas Brothers will headline the halftime show, part of the NFL’s expanded entertainment program across its 2026 international games.

“We’re thrilled to offer ESPN and Disney+ viewers a prime viewing position of the landmark NFL Melbourne game,” said Kylie Watson-Wheeler, senior vice president and managing director of The Walt Disney Company Australia and New Zealand and head of ESPN Asia-Pacific.

Watson-Wheeler said the Jonas Brothers’ established relationship with Disney audiences made the group a natural choice for the event.

The Melbourne game will also be available through Netflix and Australia’s Seven Network under separate NFL broadcast arrangements.

ESPN’s extended package will deliver at least six live games each week during the regular season, along with every playoff game, the Pro Bowl and Super Bowl LXI.

NFL RedZone will remain exclusive to Disney+ in Australia and New Zealand, providing more than seven hours of live coverage each Monday during the regular season. Full-game replays, condensed “NFL Minis” and highlights will also be available through ESPN.

“ESPN has broadcast the NFL into Australia since 1995, and its year-round coverage makes it an important partner as we continue to grow the game here,” NFL Australia and New Zealand general manager Charlotte Offord said.

According to the league, the NFL has an audience of 8.8 million fans in Australia.

The 2026-27 season begins locally on Thursday, Sept. 10, with the New England Patriots facing defending Super Bowl champions the Seattle Seahawks. The Rams-49ers game follows the next morning.

ESPN’s expanded NFL offering will culminate with Super Bowl LXI in Los Angeles in February 2027. The event will mark ESPN and Disney’s first global production of the Super Bowl.

The network plans to establish a weeklong broadcast center at Santa Monica Beach, supporting live programming, digital coverage, social content and fan events in the lead-up to the game.

ESPN and ESPN2 are available in Australia and New Zealand through Disney+, Foxtel, Kayo Sports, Fetch TV and Sky NZ.