The BBC has ended its decades-long broadcast of the World Indoor Bowls Championship, with fans and officials expressing disappointment at the decision.
End of an era for bowls on the BBC
The competition, first held in 1979, was broadcast on the BBC as recently as January 2026. The World Bowls Tour has confirmed that live coverage will still be available on YouTube for next year's edition, but the BBC's withdrawal has drawn criticism.
An insider told Wales Online: “It’s really disappointing that the BBC is turning its back on bowls, especially after England just secured three golds at the Commonwealth Games. Smaller sports need the support of the broadcaster and it’s shameful that the cuts have led to this.”
Fan backlash and BBC response
Several fans voiced frustrations on social media. One wrote: "Sad that BBC have pulled out - bad decision," while another said: "The BBC are constantly disconnecting from the licence payer."
"It's only once a year, we have football on TV every week!!! Why cancel world bowls?" asked a third. "So disappointed in BBC … they are dropping so many popular items!"
A BBC spokesperson said: "We are proud to have shown the World Indoor Bowls Championships for so many years and would like to thank the Tour for being such great partners. The financial challenges facing the BBC mean we have to make some difficult decisions to protect our future. We wish the Tour and event all the success for the future."
Other sports lost by the BBC
The World Indoor Bowls Championship is not the first sporting event to leave the BBC in recent years. The Boat Race and the Commonwealth Games have both moved to other broadcasters, while the upcoming edition of the Rugby League World Cup has been picked up by subscription service Premier Sports.
England won bowls gold in the men's singles, women's singles and women's pairs at the 2026 Commonwealth Games. The 2026 World Indoor Bowls Championship was also dominated by English players, with Robert Paxton winning the open singles and Katherine Rednall claiming the ladies matchplay title.
Future of the championship
World Bowls Tour events manager Gordon Woods said in a statement: “We are actively exploring opportunities to secure a new broadcast partner, with the aim of continuing to grow the reach and popularity of this world-class tournament. In the meantime, we are making a substantial investment into our streaming content, to ensure that those bowls enthusiasts who are unable to spectate live can access the matches, interviews and atmosphere on both YouTube and Facebook and through a new dedicated website.”
Potters Resorts will host the 2027 edition. Their strategic marketing director Marc Jones shared disappointment at the BBC's decision while also giving the broadcaster credit for their years of support. “The BBC has been a valued supporter of the World Indoor Bowls Championships since the very beginning, and we are naturally disappointed by its decision to step away from coverage of the event,” Jones said. “We understand this follows a significant cost-cutting exercise, but the broadcaster’s contribution to the sport over many years should not be underestimated. Our commitment to the sport of bowls remains as strong as ever. We are excited to host the 2027 Championships in January once again, welcoming thousands of bowls enthusiasts back to Potters for what remains the biggest event in the bowls calendar.”
