Domestic live media rights for the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games next year have been awarded to Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD).
WBD's TNT Sports broadcaster in the UK will air the action for a domestic audience (via a dedicated linear channel), with the overall deal between WBD and Commonwealth Sport also covering Ireland and mainland Europe.
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The domestic element of the agreement means that the long-running coverage of the Commonwealth Games in the UK by the public-service BBC broadcaster comes to an end. Up to this point, the BBC has covered the last 18 editions of the Commonwealth Games, stretching back to 1954.
As well as the linear coverage, over 600 hours of live content will be shown via the HBO Max streaming service, which WBD will go live in the UK next March.
Katie Sadleir, Commonwealth Sport's chief executive, has said: "This is another landmark moment as we continue to re-imagine what a Commonwealth Games looks and feels like for athletes and fans alike.
"Our partnership with Warner Bros. Discovery opens up exciting new ways for fans to connect with the action. With more events available live and a strong focus on athlete storytelling, fans will be closer to the games than ever before.”
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By GlobalDataThe Commonwealth Games do not sit in the top-tier Category A of the UK's 'crown jewels' list of sporting events that must be shown on free-to-air TV – because they are in Category B, only highlights must be made available FTA.
A tie-up between WBD and a free-to-air broadcaster around highlights is, therefore, being worked on.
Exclusive rights to a major multi-sport event such as this being awarded domestically to a pay-TV broadcaster will doubtless still attract substantial criticism, however.
Scott Young, executive vice president for WBD Sports Europe, added: "As a premium multi-sport broadcaster, we have a proven ability to connect sports fans and audiences with the world’s biggest sports events and their athletes. We will bring this storytelling heritage and production expertise to the Commonwealth Games, where our coverage of Glasgow 2026 will be comprehensive, immersive, and accessible."
WBD already holds rights across Europe and the UK to the Olympic Games, with the heavyweight set to air that property through the 2032 Brisbane Games (alongside members of the European Broadcasting Union).
A BBC spokesperson, meanwhile, said: "The BBC has been proud to broadcast the Commonwealth Games over many years, but our bid was unable to match the financial offer from the market."
In terms of Glasgow 2026, those games will only contain 10 sports, with the event previously having been allocated to Victoria in Australia, before financial issues meant that state had to pull out, with the Scottish city stepping in last year.
Other deals struck so far, meanwhile, include tie-ups with Seven Network in Australia and Sky New Zealand.
The games will take place between July 23 and August 2 next year.
