Commonwealth Games backs move away from BBC saying TNT have been 'fantastic'

The Commonwealth Games have stood behind their decision to shift British live broadcasting rights from the BBC to TNT Sports for the Glasgow Games, saying the latter has been "fantastic".

TNT has delivered 600 hours of coverage across the Games, triple the 200 hours the BBC broadcast from Birmingham in 2022.

The BBC's association with the Commonwealth Games stretched back to 1954, but that 70-year partnership came to an end after the corporation's bid for the Glasgow rights fell well short of competing offers.

An industry source described the BBC's proposal as "derisory, well below Birmingham" to The Telegraph, adding that the Games themselves might have been thrown into jeopardy had rival broadcasters not come forward with stronger financial commitments.

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Following the loss of the rights in December, a BBC spokesman 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."

The corporation is expected to re-enter negotiations when broadcasting rights for the 2030 Games become available.

Katie Sadleir, chief executive of Commonwealth Games Sport, praised the partnership so far with Warner Bros Discovery, which owns TNT.

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She said: "We are really proud of the decision we made with WBD and TNT.

"This is a new era in terms of creating an environment for multi-sport games. TNT has been a fantastic partner in terms of ensuring every single athlete has coverage.

"For £4.99 to get 600 hours of television coverage, I think that's a fantastic first step."

Sadleir pointed to the platform's innovative approach, noting she had witnessed spectators at the weightlifting using TNT's 360-degree coverage from their front-row seats.

The organisation also highlighted record levels of global broadcaster engagement, with audiences in Australia and New Zealand reportedly surpassing those of any previous Commonwealth Games.

TNT has not disclosed its own live audience numbers, though they are widely believed to fall far below what the BBC attracted through its ability to draw in casual viewers without a dedicated sports subscription.

Attention is already turning to the 2030 Games in Ahmedabad, where organisers intend to broaden the sporting programme significantly beyond Glasgow's reduced roster of 10.

Cricket and hockey are among the events expected to feature.

Interest in the Glasgow Games on TNT is believed to have been comparable to other major live events on the platform this year, excluding football, such as the French Open and the Tour de France.

The broadcaster's biggest pull is with its European football, showing the UEFA Champions League, Europa League and Conference League throughout the season.

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