In the United Kingdom, sporting events are broadcast on several national television networks, as well as radio. Many of the sporting events are listed online or in different kind of apps. These apps are mainly designed for sport fans who want to have an easy way to find when a certain game or match is played, as well as when a race starts or which channel is broadcasting the Olympic Games etc.
Certain sporting events are protected by the Ofcom Code on Sports and Other Listed and Designated Events and must be broadcast live and free-to-air on terrestrial television in the UK.
Presently, free-to-air means a TV channel which is free and covers 98% of the population. According to Ofcom regulations, qualifying free-to-air channels are BBC One, BBC Two, ITV, Channel 4 and Channel 5.
Association football/soccer
Television
Radio
BBC Radio 5 Live / Talksport
- All matches from two midweek match rounds live on BBC Radio 5 Live / BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra and BBC Sport website and app.
- All Live commentaries on all rearranged midweek matches on Talksport.
- All Boxing Day matches and one further midweek match round live via Talksport.
- Live commentary of all England international matches.
- Live commentary on selected Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland international matches
- Live commentary on selected UEFA Champions League and the UEFA Europa League matches, involving British clubs
- Live commentary on WSL [talkSPORT hold exclusive radio rights until 2028.]{16 WSL matches live each season.}
- Live commentary on Women's FA Cup matches
- Live commentary on all FIFA World Cup Finals matches until 2026
- Live commentary on all UEFA European Championship Finals matches until 2028
- Live commentary on FA Cup and EFL Cup matches and FA Community Shield
- Live commentary of up to 150 live EFL Championship matches on Talksport / Talksport 2
- Live commentary of up to 15 live EFL League One / Two matches on Talksport / Talksport 2
- Live commentary of all EFL play-off matches on Talksport / Talksport 2
- Live commentary of up to 10 live EFL Trophy matches including final on Talksport / Talksport 2
- Live EFL reports and goal flashes on BBC Radio 5 Live
- Live commentary on selected SPFL matches including all Old Firm derbies on BBC Radio 5 Live
BBC World Service
- Over 50 live Premier League commentaries per season via BBC Radio 5 Live
- 11 live FA Cup matches via BBC Radio 5 Live including Final
- Live commentary of EFL Cup Final via BBC Radio 5 Live
BBC Radio Scotland
- Commentary on Scottish Premiership matches with split coverage on MW/DAB and FM frequencies
- Commentary on Scottish Cup and Scottish League Cup matches
- Commentary on Scotland international matches
BBC Radio Wales
- Live commentary on all Cardiff City matches on 103.9 FM / DAB
- Live commentary on all Swansea City matches on 93.9 FM / DAB
- Live commentary on all Newport County matches on 95.9 FM / DAB
- Live commentary on all Wrexham matches on 95.4/91.1 FM / DAB
- Commentary on Wales international matches until 2026
BBC Radio Ulster
- Reports and commentary on Irish League football with some split coverage on BBC Radio Foyle Digital
- Commentary on Northern Ireland international matches
BBC Radio Foyle
- Commentary on Derry City matches in the League of Ireland
BBC Local Radio
- Local Premier League, EFL and FA Cup commentaries via BBC Local Radio with some split frequency coverage
Clyde 1
- Preview, half-time and full-time reports from Scottish Premiership matches during weekend Superscoreboard programming
Independent Radio News (for UK commercial radio network)
- Reports and goalflashes from every Premier League match including live updates in networked IRN hourly news bulletins
- Reports and goalflashes from selected FA Cup matches including semi-finals and final
- Reports and goalflashes from EFL Cup Final and Championship play-off final
- Reports and goalflashes from England home matches
Manx Radio
Commentary of all Isle of Man FC home matches on Manx Radio 1386 AM
Rugby league
Television
<small>20 live streamed matches from Challenge Cup, League 1, Women's Super League and Wheelchair Rugby League via The Sportsman</small>
Ashes Series All matches live on BBC in 2025
Radio
Live Super League and Challenge Cup matches with reports on BBC Radio 5 Live; Super League Grand Final on 5 Live<br/> Live State of Origin via ABC Radio on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra
Commentaries on Super League, Championship and Challenge Cup matches
Commentaries on approx 80 Super League matches live per season with Grand Final on Talksport
- Independent Radio News (for UK commercial radio network)
Reports from Super League Grand Final and Challenge Cup Final
Rugby union
Television
Radio
BBC Radio 5 Live and BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra
- Live commentary of Six Nations Championship matches until 2029
- Live commentary on Premiership Rugby
- Live commentary on European Rugby Champions Cup
- Live commentary of 2023 Rugby World Cup
- Live commentary of all home nations autumn internationals in 2024 and 2025
Talksport and Talksport 2
- Commentary on all Autumn International Series matches until 2024
- Live commentary on Premiership Rugby
- Reports from Six Nations Championship matches
- Live commentary of British & Irish Lions 2025 Tour
BBC Radio Wales and BBC Radio Cymru
- All Wales Six Nations matches live; Autumn internationals live on BBC Radio Cymru
BBC Radio Ulster
- Live commentary on all Ulster European Rugby Champions Cup matches and selected Ulster URC matches
- Commentary on all Ireland Six Nations matches
- Commentary on Ireland Autumn International matches
BBC Radio Scotland
- Commentary on all Scotland Six Nations matches
Independent Radio News (for UK commercial radio network)
- Reports from Six Nations Championship matches
Cricket
Television
- In-play video highlights clips of ICC events on BBC Sport and Sky Sports websites
- In-play video highlights clips of England international and The Hundred matches on BBC Sport website
- Clips also available for free on Sky Sports and England and Wales Cricket Board websites
- Live free streaming coverage of selected County matches via county cricket club websites and YouTube channels
Radio
BBC Radio 5 Live and BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra:
- Live Test Match Special commentary on all England home Test, ODI & T20 matches until 2028
- Live commentary on all The Hundred matches on BBC Radio 5 Live, Radio 5 Sports Extra and BBC Sport website until 2028
- Live commentary on ICC Cricket World Cup, ICC Champions Trophy & ICC World Twenty20 matches until 2027
- Sports Extra commentary on Cricket Australia international matches via ABC Radio Grandstand, plus selected Big Bash League and Women's Big Bash League matches
- Sports Extra commentary on Indian Premier League matches in 2023
- Live commentary on selected England away series (Test, ODI & T20)
BBC Local Radio (including BBC Radio Wales):
- Commentary on all First Class county, List A and T20 Blast matches on BBC Sport website until 2024
- Selected matches on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra
Talksport
- Live reports from England home international cricket matches
Talksport 2
- Live commentary on England Test, ODI and T20 tours in India, New Zealand, Sri Lanka and West Indies
Tennis
Television
Radio
- BBC Radio 5 Live and Radio 5 Sports Extra:<br/> Commentary on all four Grand Slam tournaments plus selected other tournaments including the BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells and the Queens Club Championships
- BBC World Service: Commentary on Wimbledon men's and women's singles finals
- Talksport: Live reports from Wimbledon
- Independent Radio News (for UK commercial radio network): Hourly reports from Wimbledon including live updates in networked IRN hourly news bulletins
- LBC News: Twice-hourly live reports from Wimbledon
Golf
<small>Live featured groups coverage of all British DP Tour events via YouTube</small><br /> <small>Live coverage of LIV Golf events via YouTube</small>
Radio
- BBC Radio 5 Live / Radio 5 Sports Extra:
Live commentary on the US Open, US Masters and US PGA Championships on Sports Extra with final round on 5 Live<br /> Live commentary of The Open Championship and Ryder Cup on 5 Live<br /> Live commentary of Women's British Open on Sports Extra
Live commentary on The Open Championship via Open Golf Radio and Ryder Cup via Ryder Cup Radio<br /> Live commentary on US PGA Tour events from PGA Tour Radio
Motorsport
Television
Boxing
Radio
- BBC Radio 5 Live and Talksport
Commentary on major fights involving British boxers
Mixed martial arts
Kickboxing
Professional Wrestling
Television
Multi-disciplines events
Television
Radio
- Olympic Games:
- Live on BBC Radio 5 Live (until 2032)
- Live on Talksport (in 2024)
- Paralympic Games: Live on BBC Radio 5 Live
- European Championships (multi-sport event): Live on BBC Radio 5 Live
Athletics
Television
- British Athletics major events: Live on BBC until 2029
- London Marathon: Live on BBC until 2030; Live on TNT Sports
- Great North Run: Live on BBC
- Great Manchester Run: Live on BBC
- Big London Half: Live on BBC Red Button until 2026
- Vitality London 10000: Live on BBC Red Button until 2030
- Vitality Westminster Mile: Live on BBC Red Button until 2030
- World Athletics Championships: Live on BBC until 2029; live on Eurosport in 2023
- Diamond League: Live on BBC until 2030
- World Athletics Continental Tour Gold: Live on Premier Sports to 2029
- World Athletics Indoor Championships: Live on BBC until 2027
- World Athletics Cross Country Championships: Live on BBC until 2025
- World Athletics Road Running Championships: Live on BBC until 2025
- World Athletics Relays: Live on BBC until 2025
- European Athletics Championships: Live on BBC until 2026
- European Athletics Indoor Championships: Live on BBC until 2027
- European Cross Country Championships: Live on BBC until 2027
- World Under 20 Athletics Championships: Live on BBC iPlayer in 2024
- Paris Marathon: Live on TNT Sports
- Boston Marathon: Live on TNT Sports
- New York Marathon: Live on TNT Sports and BBC Red Button
<small>World Athletics Indoor Tour Silver and Bronze meetings in Europe live via European Athletics YouTube channel</small><br /> <small>Manchester Marathon live on Manchester Marathon YouTube channel</small>
Radio
Commentary from World Championships, European Athletics Championships, Diamond League and UK Athletics major events
Snooker
Television
Horse racing
Television
- Sky Sports Racing
- Live coverage from 25 UK courses including Ascot, Chepstow, Chester, Doncaster and Lingfield.
- Over 200 fixtures from France (including Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe), Hong Kong, United States (including Breeders' Cup and Triple Crown), Australia (including Melbourne Cup) and South Africa.
- Racing TV
- Live coverage from 35 UK courses including Aintree, Cheltenham, Epsom, Goodwood, Haydock, Kempton, Newbury, Newmarket, Sandown and York.
- Irish racing.
Radio
Commentary on all major races with full coverage of The Cheltenham Festival, The Grand National, Royal Ascot and The Epsom Derby
BBC Radio 5 Live commentary on The Grand National
Commentary on all major races at The Cheltenham Festival, The Grand National, Royal Ascot and The Epsom Derby, plus daily racing commentaries on Talksport 2.
Equestrianism
Television
Darts
Television
Radio
- World Championship: Live on talkSPORT and talkSPORT 2 reports on BBC Radio 5 Live.
- Premier League, World Matchday and other major PDC tournaments: Live on talkSPORT 2.
Rowing
Television
Radio
Cycling
Television
Swimming
Television
Radio
Triathlon
Television
Gymnastics
Television
Gridiron Football (American Football)
Television
National Football League<br/> Sky Sports: live until 2028
Channel 5: Two games/week - the Sunday 6pm and 9.15pm games - during the regular season until 2028. Channel 5 will also show the London and Dublin matches, three play-off games and the Super Bowl.
NCAA College Football<br/> DAZN: Up to 25 games a week plus College GameDay live and on demand
Sky Sports: Notre Dame home games live on Sky Sports NFL
Radio
- Live commentary from over 90 matches per season and Super Bowl on talkSPORT and talkSPORT2, with exclusive Sunday Night Football, every European international game, selected playoff matches and Super Bowl, totalling over 30 live games each season until 2028.
Ice hockey
Television
Field hockey
Television
Basketball
Television
Baseball
Television
Winter sports
Television
Sailing
Television
Gaelic games
Television
Radio
Live coverage of all games in the Ulster Senior Football Championships
Shinty
Television
Netball
Television
Badminton
Television
Squash
Television
Bowls
Television
Table tennis
Television
Australian rules football
Television
Futsal
Television
Archery
Television
Volleyball
Television
References