FANS of snooker and darts have been given a boost with a new broadcasting deal for the sports. The deal will see events from both sports shown live on free-to-air TV in the UK next year.
ITV will once again broadcast events after agreeing a one-year extension with Matchroom. A host of tournaments across the two sports will now continue to be shown in 2025 across ITV and ITVX.
The World Snooker Tour's Champion of Champions, Players Championship and Tour Championship will continue to be available. As will the British Open, with this year's edition currently being broadcast live by ITV.
Meanwhile, the Professional Darts Corporation's Masters, UK Open, European Championship and Players Championship will once again be shown live by ITV. They will also continue their coverage of the World Series of Darts, with at least seven global events and the Finals, which were recently won by Luke Littler.
The extension follows the expansion of the Masters from 24 to 32 players ahead of next year. As a result, darts fans will be able to take in an extra session from the event at the Marshall Arena in Milton Keynes.
Stephen Bunting will be defending his title in January 2025 after beating Michael van Gerwen in this year's final.
ITV Extends Matchroom Deal
ITV director of sport Niall Sloane commented on the deal: “We are delighted to extend our partnership with Matchroom, and continue to bring free-to-air coverage to darts and snooker fans on ITV and ITVX. The deal includes The Masters as it enters an exciting expansion of its tournament alongside the existing big-name events our viewers enjoy annually.”
A Boost for Snooker
WST chief marketing and communications officer Tom Rowell, expressed his enthusiasm for the deal: “This is fantastic news for snooker fans as they will continue to be able to watch the sport’s biggest names across a range of prestigious events over the 2024/25 season, on free-to-air ITV platforms. We look forward to working with ITV’s outstanding team, starting at this week’s British Open in Cheltenham.”
PDC: Looking Ahead to 2025
PDC Chief Executive Matt Porter, spoke of the long-standing partnership with ITV and their excitement for the future: “ITV have been a valued partner of the PDC for over 15 years and have broadcast many iconic moments during that time – and with so much excitement around the sport at the moment we’re looking forward to a thrilling 2025.”
A Matchroom Win
The deal provides a win for both ITV and Matchroom, as it secures valuable coverage of the two sports. With the Masters expanding to 32 players, the deal will bring more hours of live coverage to ITV and ITVX. This is a positive move for both parties, as it guarantees continued exposure for the sports and keeps them in front of a wider audience. The deal is a major boost for the sport, ensuring that snooker and darts remain a key part of the UK sporting landscape.
