TVNZ will screen extensive free-to-air coverage of the Commonwealth Games after winning the broadcast rights for the 2018 event on Australia's Gold Coast.

The 2018 Commonwealth Games will run from April 4-18, and will be shown exclusively on TV ONE and TVNZ's sports channel, in addition to live online streaming, highlights and delayed broadcasts on TVNZ OnDemand and ONE News Now.

The deal also ensured broadcasters across the Pacific are able to access live coverage and highlights.

TVNZ has broadcast coverage for all but the last two editions of the Games, and was host broadcaster in Christchurch in 1974 and in Auckland 16 years later.

"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," TVNZ's director of content Jeff Latch says.