Heavenly sports have reportedly signed a whopping new £125m deal to keep PDC Darts on the channel and prevent interest from Amazon and Netflix, as well as DAZN, who are linked to parent company Matchroom Sport.
Barry Hearn, chairman of the PDC, has told Sky Sports to up the ante to save their long-standing relationship. Elsewhere in their family business, they have cut ties with Sky Sports for boxing and moved to DAZN, so they are not afraid to go where the money is.
But Sky Sports has raised money to keep Luke Littler’s development going in tournaments such as PDC World Darts ChampionshipsPremier League Darts and World Matchplay on your channel.
According to The Guardian, they paid more than double the rights fee in recognition of the Luke Littler effect, as well as the increase in darts viewing figures.
PDC has been influenced by Sky’s history in darts, with an established history of involvement in the sport, as well as links with other sports, and footballer Jack Grealish has featured in their PDC World Darts Championship advertisements.
The broadcaster has held exclusive rights to major tournaments since 1993, when WDC split to form PDC after the split of BDO.
Darts is currently the most popular sport on Sky apart from football and every year you will be able to enjoy live art for at least 64 days. It could also rise from £125m if the World Cup continues to progress. From next year, the number of players will be increased to 128 players.
They are likely to use the extra money to increase the prize fund too, and will now look to plan for the future of their free-to-air companion, which ITV currently shows and will likely continue to do, including the UK Open, the Players Championship finals and the European Championship.
