Whether it’s less pay, poorer training conditions or missing out on a primetime TV slot… it’s never been a level playing field for women in sport. Yes, we’ve seen gradual progress in recent years. For example, the record in-person crowds watching the Matildas during the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023. Or cricket inching somewhat closer – albeit rather slowly – to pay parity.
It’s also no secret that women’s sport has traditionally received less media coverage. And on top of that, female reporters are very much the minority in this landscape. As women begin creating their own spaces for thoughtful, inclusive and relatable commentary (think: podcasts, newsletters and social creators), it seems mainstream media continues to fall behind.
With the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games less than two months away, Australia’s official broadcaster of the games, Channel 7 has revealed its on-air team for Seven and 7plus Sport coverage. As its official press release states: “A group of Australia’s most trusted and recognisable sports presenters will lead the Seven Network’s unrivalled host and commentary team”.
In what could be celebrated as a big win, women make up the majority (15 of the 26) of Seven’s Commonwealth Games, 7News and Sunrise reporting teams on-site in Glasgow. This includes the likes of paralympic swim champion Annabelle Williams, cyclist Kate Bates, three-time Australian Commonwealth Games gold medallist, Tamsyn Manou, swimming champ Giaan Rooney and more. Yet, when you look at the main promotional images that have been released along with the team announcement, the apparent lack of cultural diversity can’t be ignored. Mel McLaughlin and Kate Massey are two culturally diverse women in Seven’s collective Glasgow 2026 broadcast team. We should absolutely celebrate this, just as we should acknowledge the successful careers they have established in their own right.
But two people? Is it really enough?
Female representation is extremely important, especially in the sports media landscape. However, in a country as multicultural as Australia, a predominantly white lineup just doesn’t cut it. According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, Australia’s overseas-born population has grown at an average rate of 3% per year from 2005 to 2025. Indians form Australia’s largest overseas-born migrant group, followed by England, China and then New Zealand. Three of these four countries, plus Australia of course, are amongst the 74 countries competing in the Glasgow Commonwealth Games.
What’s more, sport so often plays a role in bridging gaps between cultures. Kids, regardless of ethnicity, play school sport every Saturday morning. Many migrants across the country join their local sports club to find community and connection in a new home.
So, why doesn’t Australia’s headlining coverage of a major global sporting event take cultural representation into account?
Before delving further, it’s worth mentioning that Australian television media across the board – not just in sports coverage – has demonstrated shortcomings in terms of ethnic diversity. In 2022, the Who Gets To Tell Australian Stories? 2.0 report by Media Diversity Australia (MDA) and academics from UTS and The University of Sydney, indicated that 78% of on-air talent on news and current affairs television were Anglo-Celtic. Meanwhile, only 6.1% were from a non-European background and 5.4% were Indigenous. These figures were based on 25,000 items broadcast on 103 news and current affairs programs between June 1 and June 14 of 2022, and included breakfast news, early evening news, prime time news, late night news, weekend news and news updates, and various current affairs shows.
Back to the Commonwealth Games coverage this year, a Seven Network spokesperson told Missing Perspectives: “The Commonwealth Games is a celebration of athletes, cultures and communities from across the Commonwealth, and the coverage will reflect that. In addition to the announced team, viewers can expect regular contributions from athletes and guests in Glasgow across the Games from both Australia and other competing nations”.
When you look at Seven’s lineup, it features experienced presenters and commentators such as Rebecca Maddern, Bruce McAvaney, Emma Freedman, Matt White, Tom Sacre and Xander McGuire. It also features esteemed athletes who have competed in the Commonwealth Games, Olympics or Paralympics. This includes the women mentioned earlier, plus (but not limited to) the likes of former elite runner Jason Richardson, swimmer Ariarne Titmus, former netballers Catherine Cox and Kim Green, and Clive Adams and Lynsey Clarke as Seven’s Bowls and Para Bowls callers. Many are Commonwealth Games athletes and medallists themselves, and their athletic experiences count towards genuine sporting expertise and credibility. That shouldn’t be dismissed by any means, nor should the increased female representation that was mentioned earlier.
But it doesn’t mean that Australian media can’t do better. We can celebrate the success and contributions of these established figures, while advocating for the inclusion of more diverse voices too.