Sky Sports and Professional Darts Corporation sign new five-year broadcast deal
Sky Sports has agreed a new five-year broadcast deal with the Professional Darts Corporation (PDC), taking the partnership between the two into a 25th year.
Under the deal Sky Sports viewers will have access to over 50 days of live and exclusive darts throughout the year including the Ladbrokes World Darts Championship each Christmas until 2018. Live 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 is also covered by the agreements.
“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. This is a real success story and an excellent long term partnership. 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,” commented Barney Francis, managing director of Sky Sports.
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.”