ITV KEEPS PDC DARTS COVERAGE AS HUGE PRODUCTION SHAKE-UP LOOMS
28/10/2025 By Aaron Nijjar
ITV SPORT looks set to stay as a broadcaster for PDC darts after the current deal wraps up in November.
The contract between the PDC and ITV is due to expire after next month’s Players Championship Finals in Minehead, but several of the sport’s major tournaments are still expected to remain on the channel.
ITV currently shows the UK Open, European Championship, World Series of Darts Finals and the Players Championship Finals, as well as multiple World Series events.
However, Matchroom Media – the company run by Barry and Eddie Hearn – will take control of full production for all PDC tournaments not aired by Sky Sports from 2026.
That means Matchroom will decide on presentation, studio format, pundits and commentary teams, even if the tournaments remain on ITV.
ITV’s long-serving darts production staff have been informed they will not continue in their current roles after the existing contract ends.
Longtime pundit and commentator Chris Mason wrote on social media: “One more event to do with the current team before production is put in the safe hands of Matchroom.
“18 years is a long old time to spend with colleagues that have become friends. Darts of course will be staying on ITV Sport but it’s going to feel and look very different.”
Barry Hearn has made clear earlier this year that darts broadcasting must evolve with viewing habits.
He said: “We live in a numbers game. ITV4 has been fantastically successful for us in the numbers it’s got.
“We need to be more encouraging to the younger market, which involves talking to them in the language they understand and the medium they understand.
“The future is more digital. The future is more Netflix than free-to-air. It’s going to involve a multiple number of broadcasters.
“Some free-to-air, some behind the pay-model. People will be able to watch what they want to watch, when they want to watch it and for a price they can afford.”
Channel 5 were reported to be in advanced talks back in May about taking on some of the available rights, so there’s still no guarantee that every event will remain solely on ITV, and a shared broadcast set-up remains possible.
Image by Taylor Lanning.
