Channel 7 strikes gold as Glasgow 2026 reaches 11.9 million – Channel 7’s live coverage of the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games reached 11.9 million Australians across broadcast television and 7plus Sport.
The result covers the Opening Ceremony on 24 July through to the Closing Ceremony on 3 August. Meanwhile, Australia completed the Games with 171 medals, including 70 gold.
For Channel 7, the final figures show how a major free-to-air sporting event can build a large national audience across both linear television and streaming. The record digital reach is especially significant because viewers could follow concurrent events through 7plus Sport.
7plus Sport sets a Commonwealth Games record
Glasgow 2026 reached 3.94 million people on 7plus Sport. According to Seven, that was Australia’s biggest digital audience for a Commonwealth Games.
The Games averaged 56,000 viewers on the digital platform. That figure was 56% higher than the average audience for the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games.
Across prime time, Glasgow 2026 recorded an average national total TV audience of 747,000. The all-day average was 346,000.
The biggest Glasgow 2026 sessions
The evening session on 26 July delivered the Games’ largest reach. It was seen by 2.56 million people and averaged 964,000 national total TV viewers.
- 29 July night: 2.39 million reach and 1.14 million viewers.
- 29 July evening: 2.31 million reach and 1.05 million viewers.
- 27 July evening: 2.15 million reach and 874,000 viewers.
- 26 July night: 2.07 million reach and 822,000 viewers.
- 27 July night: 2.03 million reach and 885,000 viewers.
- 1 August evening: 1.86 million reach and 698,000 viewers.
- 25 July evening: 1.79 million reach and 722,000 viewers.
Seven also ranked as Australia’s number one network in total people, viewers aged 25 to 54, viewers aged 16 to 39 and grocery shoppers on every day of the Games.
Australia’s athletes drive the coverage
Seven’s Head of Commonwealth Games, Anna Stone, said the coverage followed established champions and emerging stars across the 10-day event.
“Australia’s performance in Glasgow has been nothing short of extraordinary. We’ve celebrated established champions, witnessed the emergence of new stars and watched countless Aussies deliver career-defining moments in the green and gold.”
Anna Stone, Seven’s Head of Commonwealth Games
Australia collected a record 37 gold medals in the pool. On the track, Abbey Caldwell, Jess Hull, Claudia Hollingsworth and Rose Davies led a strong middle-distance campaign. Lachie Kennedy also confirmed his status as Australia’s fastest man, while Kurtis Marschall cleared a Games-record 5.85 metres in the pole vault.
Para athletes share the Glasgow stage
The integrated Para sport program was another major part of Channel 7’s coverage. Para events were staged in the same venues and across the daily schedule.
Stone highlighted Tim Hodge’s 100 metres backstroke S9 gold, Rhiannon Clarke’s victory in the women’s 200 metres T38 and the Para-Bowls Pairs gold won by Damien Delgado and James Reynolds.
Channel 7’s wall of sport continues
The Commonwealth Games opened a busy second half of 2026 for Channel 7. Its upcoming sports schedule includes the AFL Finals Series, Rugby League World Cup, Test cricket, World Athletics U20 Championships, Spring Racing Carnival, Big Bash League and the Bathurst 1000.
For more Commonwealth Games news, visit TV Central’s dedicated section. Replays and highlights from Glasgow 2026 are available through 7plus Sport.
