Sky Sports extends deal with Professional Darts Corporation
It offers live darts coverage throughout the year, including the Ladbrokes World Darts Championship each Christmas until 2018. There will also be coverage of the McCoy's Premier League, PartyPoker.com World Grand Prix, William Hill Grand Slam of Darts, Betfair World Cup of Darts and the Betfair World Matchplay, which celebrates its 20th staging this summer.
Sky Sports managing director Barney Francis said: “Sky Sports has worked with the PDC since the early 1990s, helping to build the sport from working men's clubs to some of the biggest arenas in the UK and Ireland.
“Our live coverage and promotion of darts is unique and Sky Sports viewers can enjoy the fantastic atmosphere that these events generate for a further five years.”
PDC chairman Barry Hearn added: "Sky Sports has played an integral part in the growth of darts, with its innovative and high quality broadcasts and fundamental support of the PDC, and we are delighted to sign this new broadcast contract.
“This deal is not only great for the PDC but also for our players, who will be playing in huge events live on Sky Sports in the coming years."
This announcement continues a series of strong major rights deals for Sky Sports over the past 12 months, including: Barclays Premier League, England & Wales cricket, British & Irish Lions, Heineken Cup, European Tour, Ryder Cup, NBA, NFL, plus many more.
