The landscape of British sports broadcasting is set for a seismic shift as TNT Sports takes the helm as the exclusive live UK broadcast partner for the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games, replacing the BBC after an extraordinary 70-year run. The decision, announced by Commonwealth Sport and Warner Bros Discovery, signals not just a change in channel but a transformation in how fans across the United Kingdom and Ireland will experience one of the world’s most storied multi-sport events.
For the first time since 1954, the BBC will not provide wall-to-wall live coverage of the Commonwealth Games, having been outbid by TNT Sports for the coveted rights. The Games, scheduled for July 23 to August 2, 2026, will feature 3,000 athletes from 74 nations and territories, competing across 10 sports and six para sports. Over 600 hours of live coverage have been promised, with every event streamed on HBO Max—set to launch in the UK and Ireland in March 2026—alongside a dedicated TNT Sports linear channel.
This broadcast shake-up has sparked both excitement and controversy. Scott Young, executive vice president at Warner Bros Discovery Sports Europe, pledged, “Our coverage will be comprehensive, immersive and accessible. We are confident our approach will celebrate the history of the Commonwealth Games while telling new stories of its competitors with unmatched energy and excitement.”
Phil Batty, chief executive of Glasgow 2026, echoed the enthusiasm, stating, “It is great to welcome Warner Bros Discovery to the Glasgow 2026 family of broadcasters as the new home for the Commonwealth Games in the UK and Europe. In Scotland, we committed to a bold re-imagining of the Games, innovative, future focused and with sports fans at the centre of the action. The partnership with Warner Bros Discovery will celebrate our athletes, embrace new content formats, and drive more hours of sport coverage for the Commonwealth Games than ever before.”
Indeed, the numbers are staggering. TNT Sports will provide more hours of live coverage than any previous Games, with all 133 sessions streamed online and broadcast on television. Every sport and athlete will be showcased, and the ambitious plan is to bring fans closer to the action with a strong focus on athlete storytelling and digital engagement through HBO Max.
For viewers, however, this new era comes at a price. A monthly subscription to TNT Sports currently costs £30.99 if ordered online, though cheaper add-on deals are available through providers like Sky, Virgin Media, BT, and EE. While this model promises more content and innovative features, it also raises questions about accessibility—especially for those accustomed to the BBC’s free-to-air tradition.
The BBC, for its part, expressed regret at losing the rights but signaled ongoing discussions with the organisers. A spokesperson 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. We wish them every success for next year.” Despite the setback, the BBC aims to secure as much secondary coverage as possible, in line with the Broadcasting Act’s requirement that protected events offer some free-to-air access.
The loss of free-to-air coverage has drawn criticism from several quarters. Scotland’s health secretary Neil Gray voiced his disappointment on social media, noting, “We asked UKGov to protect Games as free to air, pressed BBC to make a meaningful bid & Commonwealth Sport to ensure we could all watch for free. I’ve met with @thecgf today to express disappointment & pressed for Games to be free to air.”
Two-time Commonwealth Games medallist and sports journalist Susan Egelstaff was even more direct, telling BBC Radio Scotland’s Lunchtime Live, “I don’t think it can be overstated how big a blow this is to the Games itself. Losing BBC coverage is a big deal but I think, more generally, losing free-to-air coverage—that’s the huge, negative thing for this Commonwealth Games. I am really, really sceptical about how many people will pay a subscription to watch this Commonwealth Games.”
The debate over accessibility is not new. The BBC’s long-standing association with the Games has made previous editions—such as Manchester 2002, Glasgow 2014, and Birmingham 2022—feel like national events, bringing together viewers from all walks of life. In fact, the BBC’s coverage has often extended beyond sport, including cultural programming and special events that have helped make the Games a special time for host cities and the wider UK public.
But 2026 is a different story. The Glasgow Games are described as “scaled-down,” with fewer sports and athletes compared to previous editions. Glasgow was awarded hosting rights in September 2024 after the Australian state of Victoria withdrew due to rising costs. The Scottish government backed the city’s bid, and the event will return to Glasgow 12 years after its last hosting in 2014. Organisers are keen to maximise revenue, especially given the lack of public funding and the short notice with which the city stepped in.
Katie Sadleir, CEO of Commonwealth Sport, positioned the broadcast deal as a forward-looking step: “This is another landmark moment as we continue to re-imagine what a Commonwealth Games looks and feels like for athletes and fans alike. With a heavyweight broadcast partner like Warner Bros. Discovery onboard across the UK and Europe for Glasgow 2026 and the recent decision to award the 2030 Commonwealth Games to India, alongside strong interest for 2034, the future of our Movement has never been more secure. Our partnership with Warner Bros Discovery opens up exciting new ways for fans to connect with the action.”
Still, for many, the loss of universal free-to-air access casts a shadow. The Broadcasting Act’s protection ensures some highlights or secondary coverage will appear on terrestrial TV, but the tradition of gathering around the BBC for every moment of the Games is ending. Will this new model bring in new fans, or leave some behind? That’s the million-pound question.
As anticipation builds for the 23rd edition of the Commonwealth Games, all eyes are on how this bold new broadcast approach will play out. Will TNT Sports’ immersive, digital-first strategy usher in a new era of engagement, or will the absence of free-to-air coverage dampen the spirit of unity that has long defined the Games in the UK?
One thing’s for sure: Glasgow 2026 will be a Commonwealth Games like no other—both on the field and on the screen.
