Seven locks down next two Commonwealth Games
The Seven Network has locked in the exclusive broadcast rights for the 2026 and 2030 Commonwealth Games.
The agreement with Commonwealth Sport covers broadcast, digital, connected TV, radio, social media, and subscription TV rights. The 2026 Games will be held in Glasgow over ten days, from July 23, 2026.
Seven did not reveal the cost of the deal, however it is believed to be substantially less than what Commonwealth Sport could have commanded if the Games were to be held in Melbourne, as originally planned.
Seven paid $40 million for the rights to the 2018, which were held on the Gold Coast.
The 2022 Games in Birmingham drew 11.1 million viewers for Seven, over 12 days, and the network was reportedly “very close” to locking in the 2026 extension in mid-2023, before Victoria’s former premier Daniel Andrews announced the state would no longer be hosting the Games. More than 18 months later, the broadcast deal has been finalised.
This is the latest sporting acquisition for Seven, as it enters into combined broadcast and digital rights deals for both the cricket and the AFL. The past summer of cricket and the current AFL season mark the first time Australians have been able to stream either sport for free, on 7plus.
In January, Seven also re-signed the broadcast rights for every round of the 2025 LIV Golf tournament, the controversial men’s golf tour owned by Public Investment Fund, Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund.
Bruce McAvaney recently rejoined the Seven team
Although Seven holds the subscription TV rights for the upcoming Commonwealth Games, its unlikely they will on-sell them, given the network’s focus on building its free BVOD platform, and its stance as “big believers in Australians’ right to have access to free sport.”
“Sport is part of Seven’s DNA,” Seven’s CEO Jeff Howard said in a media release announcing the deal.
“We are looking forward to adding the Commonwealth Games to our strong sporting line up for 2026, including Australia’s favourite winter and summer sports – AFL and cricket – horse racing, NFL, LIV Golf and much more.”
Veteran broadcaster Bruce McAvaney, who recently signed to Seven for the current season’s AFL coverage, said in the release, “it is thrilling and a privilege for Seven to be able to continue our long association bringing the Games to all Australians.”
Seven was broadcasting partner for the past two Commonwealth Games, including the 2018 Games on the Gold Coast.
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Nathan Jolly is the Features Editor at Mumbrella. He joined the team in July, 2023.
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Great to see this optimism from Seven that another Commonwealth Games will even occur.
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“Locks down” is an interesting headline for “gets stuck with”
Die, Comm Games, Die.
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