Channel 5 reportedly set to secure free-to-air darts rights from ITV including UK Open and World Masters

In the UK such tournaments as the UK Open, European Championship and the recently revived World Masters have been showpiece events on ITV4 but they will now reportedly be on the move with Channel 5 reportedly set to snap up the rights to free-to-air rights.

City AM reported that they are close to securing live rights for nine tournaments from next year which also includes the Players Championship Finals and at least seven World Series of Darts events including the finals.

With the rise of Luke Littler in particular, the rights to darts have been a hot commodity. Sky Sports signed a reported five year £125m deal to show more than 60 days of live darts a year including the expanded World Championship.

One that has now gone up to £5m with £1m for the winner and now the free-to-air rights will be on the move from 2026 with Matchroom now outsourcing presenting and commentary selections.

They will take charge of production for events excluding those broadcast by Sky Sports so a likely shake-up is afoot from the current line-up.

PDC President Barry Hearn confirmed that the new broadcasting arrangements which will also affect snooker were in the works recently as per Sun Sport. "We live in a numbers game. ITV4 has been fantastically successful for us in the numbers it’s got."

"We need to be more encouraging to the younger market, which involves talking to them in the language that they understand and the medium that they understand.

“And that’s why the world is becoming more digital. The future is more Netflix than free-to-air.

“People will be able to watch what they want to watch, the sports they want to watch, when they want to watch it and for a price they can afford. I find that really exciting.”