15 Jan 2016

TVNZ bags Commonwealth Games rights

11:49 am on 15 January 2016

Television New Zealand (TVNZ) has won the exclusive broadcast rights for the 2018 Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast.

Valerie Adams wins at the 2014 Commonwealth Games.

Valerie Adams wins at the 2014 Commonwealth Games. Photo: AFP

Pay TV network Sky Television has held the rights for the past two Commonwealth Games, in Delhi and Glasgow, and also has the rights to this year's Olympics in Rio.

State-owned broadcaster TVNZ's win means the Commonwealth Games will be available to viewers on free-to-air TV.

A statement from the Commonwealth Games Federation said TVNZ's coverage will offer viewers live action every day on air through TV One and TVNZ's sports channel in addition to live online streaming, highlights and delayed broadcasts.

The deal also ensures broadcasters in Cook Islands, Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, Niue, Norfolk Island, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu are able to access live coverage and daily highlights packages.