Sky Sports Secures £125 Million Darts Deal

Sky Sports has secured a new £125 million exclusive broadcasting deal with the Professional Darts Corporation (PDC), fending off competition from streaming giants Netflix and Amazon. This significant deal allows Sky to continue broadcasting major events, including the World Championship, which will now feature an expanded field of 128 competitors. The contract, more than double the value of the previous agreement, reflects the rising popularity of darts, particularly following the success of 17-year-old Luke Littler, who recently became the youngest world champion. Sky has held the rights to PDC events since the sport's inception in 1993, and darts has become the broadcaster's second-largest sport after football. The increased revenue from this deal is expected to enhance the prize fund and overall investment in the sport. The viewing figures for darts have soared, with recent matches attracting peak audiences of over 3 million viewers, solidifying its status in the UK sports landscape.