BBC Alba said it would announce more details on the timings of its coverage closer to the start of the games later this month
BBC Alba said it would announce more details on the timings of its coverage closer to the start of the games later this month
BBC Alba is to screen nightly live coverage and highlights throughout the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games.
The Gaelic broadcaster will be the only place on the BBC where viewers can watch events after TNT Sports secured the rights to be the Games’ live UK broadcast partner.
The subscription channel outbid the BBC, which had been the main partner and provided free-to-air coverage since 1954 for 18 Games in a row.
BBC Alba said details on its broadcast times and programming would be announced closer to the start of Glasgow 2026. The channel’s Gaelic-language coverage will also be available on BBC iPlayer.
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Taking place from 23 July to 2 August, the Games’ 10 sports and six para sports , externalinclude 3×3 wheelchair basketball, swimming, artistic gymnastics, athletics, bowls, netball and track cycling.
More than 3,000 athletes from 74 nations are set to take part.
Glasgow last hosted the Commonwealth Games in 2014.
BBC Alba broadcasts programmes in Gaelic including on current affairs, children’s entertainment and drama.
Earlier this year, it showed a package of eight live Serie A football matches showcasing Italy-based Scots as they prepared for this summer’s World Cup.
BBC Alba said it would be providing Gaelic-language Commonwealth Games coverage from the opening to the closing ceremonies.
Presenter Derek Murray will head up its commentary team.
Jamaica’s Usain Bolt poses after winning the men’s 4 x 100m relay athletics event when Glasgow hosted the Commonwealth Games in 2014
Jamaica’s Usain Bolt poses after winning the men’s 4 x 100m relay athletics event when Glasgow hosted the Commonwealth Games in 2014
Margaret Mary Murray, head of BBC Gaelic Services, said: “This is a historic opportunity for BBC Alba and the Gaelic language to be at the heart of broadcasting a global sporting event to audiences.
“It is a privilege to have the opportunity to showcase the world’s finest athletes competing at the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games and to bring all the thrills and magic moments to audiences wherever they are.”
Phil Batty, chief executive of Glasgow 2026, said BBC Alba was a “brilliant addition” to the games.
He said: “These Games belong to everyone and that means making sure every community across Scotland can follow the action in a way that feels close to home.
“Bringing live coverage to audiences through the Gaelic language reflects everything we want this partnership to stand for – a Games that’s for everyone.”
In December, it emerged the BBC had been replaced by TNT Sports as live UK broadcast partner for Glasgow 2026.
The channel is part of Warner Bros Discovery and is best known for screening Uefa Champions League matches as well as selected English Premier League fixtures.
The BBC said it was “unable to match” TNT’s bid to screen the games.
TNT Sports said it would show more than 600 hours of live coverage.
The broadcaster said every event would be streamed on HBO Max.
Analysis: TV coverage will still have a lower profile
The BBC Alba deal means there will still be some live coverage of the Commonwealth Games on free-to-air television in Scotland.
The commentary and presentation will, of course, be predominantly in Gaelic.
A similar deal is in place in Wales. This means there will be some live coverage on the Welsh language broadcaster S4C.
These deals happened because TV rights packages are available to cover many indigenous languages across Commonwealth countries – not just the main language.
The BBC was outbid for live English language rights in the UK by subscription service TNT. Channel 5 later secured a package of two hours of daily recorded highlights.
The Welsh and Gaelic deals ensure there will at least be some free-to-air live coverage.
BBC Alba and S4C are available to all viewers in Scotland and Wales respectively.
But the profile of the TV coverage will, inevitably, still be much lower to that afforded to previous Commonwealth Games in the UK.
The games in 1970, 1986, 2002, 2014 and 2022 got wall-to-wall coverage on BBC One.
The schedule on BBC One is currently dominated by the World Cup and Wimbledon. Major sporting events have the potential to bring large, diverse groups of people together to share memorable moments.
The deals covering BBC Alba and S4C are good news for these channels and inevitably some who do not speak Gaelic or Welsh will watch too.
But how will the scaled down Commonwealth Games fare without high profile live coverage on a major free-to-air channel?
