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Network Ten and FOXTEL announced they had secured the exclusive Australian broadcast rights to the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi, India.

The agreement will see TEN and FOXTEL deliver Australian viewers the most comprehensive coverage of this blue ribbon multi-sport event ever seen on Australian free-to-air and subscription television.

TEN, who today officially won the rights from the Organising Committee for the Delhi 2010 Commonwealth Games as part of a competitive bid process, will partner with FOXTEL to broadcast the 2010 Commonwealth Games, from October 3 to 14 that year.

Under this landmark partnership agreement TEN and FOXTEL will share all broadcast rights, allowing both TEN and FOXTEL to broadcast simultaneous live coverage of all events. Both networks will have coverage of the Opening and Closing Ceremonies, with TEN exclusively live.

Importantly, many key events from the Delhi 2010 Commonwealth Games will be broadcast within Australian prime time zones.

TEN and FOXTEL will also look to on sell the radio rights, with FOXTEL securing the exclusive subscription television and exclusive new media rights, including mobile, internet and digital video broadcast handheld (DVBH).

The 2010 Commonwealth Games will also be the first to be host-broadcast produced in full High Definition.

TEN last held rights to the Commonwealth Games in Victoria, Canada in 1994 and in 2010 will broadcast the most comprehensive free-to-air coverage of the event ever seen in Australia across its high definition, standard definition and analogue channels.

FOXTEL will compliment TEN’s extensive coverage by offering its subscribers an expanded service that will provide an unparalleled choice of Commonwealth Games competition across all 17 sports.

Mr Suresh Kalmadi, Chairman of the Delhi 2010 Commonwealth Games Organising Committee, said: “The rights for the Delhi 2010 Commonwealth Games, which are represented by Fast Track, our exclusive broadcast rights agency, were keenly sought by a number of parties, but the TEN and FOXTEL partnership was compelling and will deliver the most comprehensive coverage ever for Australian audiences in the 80-year history of the Games.”

Network Ten chief executive officer, Grant Blackley, said: "Securing the 2010 Commonwealth Games rights reinforces TEN's position as the industry leader in broadcasting premium High Definition sporting events. TEN will showcase the Commonwealth Games as never before across our HD, SD and analogue platforms. The Commonwealth Games will be broadcast in a highly favourable time zone attracting audiences and premium advertisers alike and will deliver TEN both outstanding ratings and significant revenue.

"Australia always performs exceptionally well at the Commonwealth Games. In 2006, Australia won a total of 221 medals including 84 gold and was clearly the dominant country. We look forward to Australia continuing this domination in 2010."

FOXTEL Chief Executive and Managing Director Kim Williams AM said: “Australians have always enthusiastically embraced the Commonwealth Games which have consistently dominated Australian television ratings. FOXTEL is looking forward to redefining the way in which its subscribers watch this prestigious sporting celebration with unparalleled, high definition coverage of the entire games, the likes of which has never been seen before.

“And in honoring and serving its customers, FOXTEL will not only provide access to complete coverage of the 2010 Commonwealth Games, it will do so also via new technologies including mobile and the internet.”