BBC drops the baton: For the first time in 72 years, the Beeb is not covering the Commonwealth Games... unless you want to see it in Gaelic

By CLAIRE DUFFIN, SENIOR REPORTER and NIK SIMON Published: 00:50, 27 July 2026 | Updated: 00:57, 27 July 2026 Turn on the television and you would be forgiven for not knowing there is a major sporting event taking place in one of the home nations. That is because, for the first time in 72 years, the BBC is not covering the Commonwealth Games – to the anger of fans and athletes competing in Glasgow. TNT Sports has the live UK broadcast rights, after owner Warner Bros Discovery paid a reported £5million, meaning the televised English–language coverage will only be accessible via an HBO subscription. And talkSPORT has taken over as the radio broadcast partner of the event, so there will be no such coverage on the BBC either. The corporation reportedly tried to extend its broadcast partnership, which has lasted since 1954, but was outbid. It has made no secret about prioritising other events. HBO Max subscription prices range from £4.99 to £14.99 per month, depending on the plan. But all hope is not lost for those determined to find free TV coverage, as UK viewers can watch some of the Games on BBC Alba – the Beeb's Gaelic channel. This is due to the corporation still agreeing deals for TV packages that are only available in indigenous languages. Channel 5, meanwhile, is showing highlights with advert breaks. Critics say the BBC's public funding model means it should be committed to showing national events such as the Games. It has already faced criticism over its scaled–back coverage of the World Cup, which saw pundits stay at its Salford studio for most of the tournament. Lizzy Dekkers (L) and Alex Perkins of Australia recover following the Women's 100m Butterfly Semi Final at the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games In 2022, when the Games were in Birmingham, the corporation broadcast 200 hours of action, across up to 11 live streams. Organiser Commonwealth Sport has faced recent financial problems, with it subsequently being accused of prioritising a more lucrative broadcast deal over the wider reach of free–to–air live coverage. This year's edition was almost cancelled after original hosts Victoria in Australia backed out, due to projected costs. Glasgow stepped in to host a streamlined version, with just ten sports compared to 19 four years ago. On the broadcast rights, former Olympic swimmer Sharron Davies criticised a poor offer from the BBC and a 'bad decision' by the Games' organising committee. She said: 'The right level of exposure was important to guarantee the future of these Games.' Gymnast Luke Whitehouse, who competed on Sunday, told the Daily Mail: 'It's definitely different [not as much publicity]. 'There are still people at home watching – it's not free to watch but hopefully people can watch it one way or another.' And fans also expressed disappointment at the lack of free–to–air options. Rev Glyn Wise wrote online: 'Why is the Commonwealth Games not on the #BBC this year? I absolutely love sports but it feels slightly pushed to one side this year!' This year's edition will feature 3,000 athletes for 215 events and see more than 1,000 medals handed out. King Charles officially opened the Games at the Hydro Arena on Thursday.