The channel willl offer viewers the best of the live action every day on air through TV ONE and TVNZ’s sports channel throughout the Games, set to take place from April 4 to 15 in 2018.

Live online streaming, highlights and delayed broadcasts will also be shown through TVNZ OnDemand and ONE News Now.

Broadcasters in Cook Islands, Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, Niue, Norfolk Island, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu will also be able to access the packages.

“We are delighted to welcome back TVNZ to our family of broadcast partners for the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games," said Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) chief executive David Grevemberg.

"New Zealand has a proud Commonwealth sporting history, and thanks to TVNZ’s innovative and extensive plans for free-to-air coverage, I have no doubt that New Zealanders will have a memorable Games experience."

TVNZ have delivered Commonwealth Games coverage for all but the last two editions of the Games.

This included acting as host broadcaster for both the Christchurch 1974 and Auckland 1990 editions

Action at Delhi 2010 and Glasgow 2014 was shown on pay-to-view company Sky Network Television Ltd.

Viewing figures are expected to be particularly high this time around with just a three hour time difference between New Zealand and the sporting action on Queensland’s Gold Coast.

“Nothing brings us together as a nation like a major sporting competition and that’s why free to air coverage of the big events always delivers such big audiences," added TVNZ director of content, Jeff Latch.

"Kiwis love to cheer on our national athletes and with the 2018 Games so close to home, we think public interest will be very high."

It is hoped a worldwide audience of over one billion will experience Gold Coast 2018, with the CGF acting themselves to retain, coordinate and sell all broadcast rights.