SONY PICTURES NETWORKS INDIA (SPNI) has acquired the exclusive media rights to broadcast the 2026 Commonwealth Games in India and the Indian subcontinent, strengthening its portfolio of premium multi-sport properties.
The agreement will see SPNI deliver comprehensive live coverage of the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games across its television channels and digital streaming platform, Sony LIV.
Under the deal, SPNI will provide live and on-demand coverage of the Games across television and digital platforms, ensuring extensive access for audiences across India. The acquisition further reinforces Sony’s long-term strategy of building a diversified sports rights portfolio that spans cricket, football, tennis, combat sports, motorsport and major international multi-sport events.
The Glasgow Commonwealth Games are scheduled to take place from July 23 to August 2, 2026, featuring approximately 3,000 athletes from 74 Commonwealth nations and territories competing across 10 sports. The streamlined edition of the Games will include athletics, swimming, artistic gymnastics, track cycling, weightlifting, boxing, judo, lawn bowls, netball and 3×3 basketball, including wheelchair competitions. Glasgow previously hosted the Commonwealth Games in 2014 and stepped in to stage the 2026 edition after the Australian state of Victoria withdrew due to escalating costs.
For India, the Commonwealth Games remain one of the country’s most successful international sporting events. Indian athletes have consistently delivered strong medal performances in disciplines such as wrestling, weightlifting, boxing, badminton, table tennis and athletics. The 2026 edition is expected to attract significant domestic interest, particularly with India’s preparations for future mega sporting events, including the 2030 Commonwealth Games and its bid to host the 2036 Olympic Games.
The acquisition complements SPNI’s extensive sports broadcasting portfolio, which already includes rights to major cricket boards such as the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), New Zealand Cricket (NZC) and Cricket West Indies (CWI), as well as UEFA competitions, Wimbledon, the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), the Ultimate Table Tennis (UTT) league and several international football properties. The addition of the Commonwealth Games further strengthens Sony’s position as one of India’s leading multi-sport broadcasters.
