BBC loses Commonwealth Games coverage for first time in over 70 years

TNT Sports secured the Commonwealth Games rights, while Channel 5 will air the free-to-air highlights package

by e4m Staff
Published: Jun 5, 2026 6:39 PM | 1 min read

The BBC will not cover the Commonwealth Games for the first time in over 70 years, as reported by media outlets.
Broadcast and streaming rights for the event have been acquired by TNT Sports, with Channel 5 securing free-to-air highlights and daily recap programs.
Channel 5's chief content officer emphasized that the partnership with TNT Sports will keep top athletes accessible to UK viewers on free television.
This decision follows the BBC's recent loss of coverage for other sporting events, including The Boat Race and live rights to England fixtures in the men's Six Nations Championship.

The BBC will not carry coverage of the Commonwealth Games for the first time in more than seven decades when the event takes place in Scotland later this year, according to media reports. The broadcaster, which has been associated with the Games since the 1950s, will be absent from the tournament's coverage.

Broadcast and streaming rights for the competition were secured by TNT Sports following a competitive bidding process. While there had been expectations that the BBC would receive a sublicensed package featuring free-to-air highlights and daily recap programmes, those rights have now instead reportedly gone to Channel 5.

Channel 5's chief content officer, Ben Frow, was quoted as saying that the partnership with TNT Sports would ensure that top athletes remain accessible to viewers on free television across the UK.

The loss of the Commonwealth Games adds to a growing list of sporting properties no longer shown by the BBC. Earlier this year, the broadcaster missed out on coverage of The Boat Race, with Channel 4 taking over television rights and Times Radio securing audio coverage. It has also relinquished live rights to England fixtures in the men's Six Nations Championship.