Jacqui Oatley, a seasoned commentator and presenter, has bid farewell to ITV after more than ten years with the network. Oatley, who famously became the first woman to provide commentary on BBC’s Match of the Day 18 years ago, has also worked with BBC and Sky Sports during her career.
Following the conclusion of the Players Championship Finals, Oatley announced her departure from ITV, where she had been a prominent figure in the channel’s darts coverage for over a decade. Expressing her gratitude, she reminisced about her time with the production team, highlighting memorable moments from major football events like Euro 2016 and World Cup 2018, intertwined with her passion for darts.
ITV’s darts coverage will continue on ITV4 and ITVX under Matchroom, led by Eddie Hearn. The network has also bid farewell to another experienced commentator, Ned Boulting, known for his work on cycling and darts. Meanwhile, ITV remains committed to broadcasting major darts tournaments such as the European Championship Finals, Players Championship Finals, and World Masters.
In a strategic move, Sky Sports has secured a new five-year deal to showcase premier events like the World Championship, World Cup of Darts, Premier League, and Grand Slam. Niall Sloane, ITV’s director of sport, emphasized the network’s dedication to offering top-tier darts coverage to a wider audience through 2028, in partnership with the Professional Darts Corporation.
Sky has introduced a discounted Essential TV and Sky Sports bundle for the 2025/26 season, providing access to over 1,400 live matches across various sports leagues. The broadcaster is set to air a minimum of 215 live Premier League games each season, along with Formula 1, golf, and other popular sporting events.