GLASGOW, SCOTLAND – For the first time in over 70 years, the Commonwealth Games will move behind a paywall in the United Kingdom. In a landmark announcement on Friday, Commonwealth Sport confirmed that Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) has secured the exclusive UK and European broadcast rights for the Glasgow 2026 Games, ending the BBC’s tenure as the home of the event since 1954.
The deal signals a seismic shift in how British audiences consume multi-sport events, moving 600 hours of live coverage to TNT Sports and the soon-to-be-launched HBO Max streaming service.
The Deal: Finances Over Footprint?
The BBC, which has broadcast 18 consecutive editions of the Games, reportedly submitted a bid but was unable to match the financial package offered by WBD. While the BBC has recently bolstered its rights portfolio with the Women’s Champions League and Bundesliga, the loss of the Commonwealth Games, a staple of British summertime television is being described by industry insiders as a “huge blow.”
“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,” a BBC spokesperson confirmed.
What This Means for Fans
The move has sparked immediate backlash from sports fans and politicians alike, particularly as Glasgow 2026 is a “home” Games.
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Pay-to-Watch: To view the 10-sport integrated programme live, fans will now likely need a TNT Sports subscription (currently priced at £30.99/month) or an HBO Max subscription when it launches in March 2026.
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The “Crown Jewels” Loophole: Because the Commonwealth Games are a Category B protected event (rather than Category A like the Olympics or FIFA World Cup), only highlights are required to be shown on free-to-air (FTA) television.
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Potential FTA Partner: WBD is reportedly exploring a partnership with a free-to-air broadcaster to provide these highlights and potentially select live windows, but no deal has yet been finalized.
A “Re-imagined” Future
Katie Sadleir, CEO of Commonwealth Sport, hailed the partnership as a “landmark moment” for the movement, emphasizing that the revenue helps secure the future of the Games following the withdrawal of several previous host cities.
“With a heavyweight broadcast partner like WBD onboard, the future of our Movement has never been more secure,” Sadleir stated. “This partnership opens up exciting new ways for fans to connect with the action through more hours of live coverage than ever before.”
The Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games are scheduled to take place from July 23 to August 2, 2026, featuring a streamlined roster of sports including athletics, swimming, and track cycling.
