BBC loses rights to historic sport event after 72 years in major blow | Other | Sport
Channel 5 has struck a Commonwealth Games highlights agreement, marking the end of the BBC’s 72-year tenure as the broadcaster of the event. The prestigious athletics competition was last staged in Birmingham in 2022. In 2026, Glasgow, Scotland, will play host to the Games. TNT Sports secured the live broadcasting rights last year, and now The Guardian claim that Channel 5 has agreed terms to air a daily highlights programme.
TNT, owned by Warner Bros Discovery (WBD), is understood to have agreed to sublicense the highlights rights to Channel 5. Speaking last year, Games officials praised the partnership with TNT and WBD. “This is another landmark moment as we continue to re-imagine what a Commonwealth Games looks and feels like for athletes and fans alike,” said Katie Sadleir, the chief executive of Commonwealth Sport.
“With a heavyweight broadcast partner like Warner Bros Discovery on board 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.
“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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Under a fresh four-year agreement running from 2026 to 2029, the BBC also lost its rights to broadcast England men’s home and away fixtures for the Six Nations.
ITV has consequently become the sole broadcaster for all of England’s Six Nations fixtures, while the BBC retains the right to air five matches per season, with an emphasis on Scotland and Wales games, along with the Women’s and Under-20 Six Nations.
The BBC has also been stripped of the rights to broadcast the Boat Race in 2026. The 2025 edition of the annual Oxford University and Cambridge University contest attracted 2.6 million viewers. Channel 4’s agreement also secures the rights for the Women’s Boat Race centenary (2027) and the Men’s Boat Race bicentenary (2029).
The BBC continues to hold the live television rights for the main Wimbledon tournament until 2027, yet concerns have arisen following the broadcaster’s loss of exclusive rights to Wimbledon highlights.
