TNT Sports and 5 strike Commonwealth Games partnership
June 4, 2026 11.20 Europe/London By Julian Clover


TNT Sports has extended its plans for Glasgow 2026 by partnering with public service broadcaster Channel 5 to provide free-to-air highlights coverage of the Commonwealth Games.

Under the agreement, 5 will become the exclusive English-language free-to-air highlights broadcaster, showing daily round-ups from the Games, while TNT Sports will retain exclusive live rights across its channels and on HBO Max.

The deal represents a significant change in the UK broadcast landscape for the Commonwealth Games, which for decades were synonymous with coverage from BBC.

For Glasgow 2026, every medal session will be available live through TNT Sports and HBO Max. Daily highlights on 5 will provide a free-to-air window for UK audiences.

Scott Young, EVP of WBD Sports Europe, said the agreement would ensure the Games reached both dedicated sports fans and broader audiences. He said the combination of live coverage on TNT Sports and HBO Max, alongside highlights on 5, would give viewers greater flexibility in how they followed the event.

The arrangement follows a familiar strategy for Warner Bros. Discovery, which has previously partnered with free-to-air broadcasters to maximise the reach of premium sports rights. These have included its Olympic Games agreements with the BBC and selected Premiership Rugby matches on ITV.

For 5, the deal further strengthens an expanding sports portfolio that has recently included the NFL Super Bowl, FIFA Club World Cup, England T20 cricket internationals and major snooker events.

Glasgow 2026 will take place between 23 July and 2 August, featuring around 3,000 athletes from 74 nations and territories. TNT Sports is expected to provide around 600 hours of live coverage across the Games.

While the BBC is absent from the rights package for the first time in modern Commonwealth Games history, the partnership between TNT Sports and 5 ensures the event will continue to have a significant free-to-air presence in the UK.