Jacqui Oatley has bid farewell to ITV after more than ten years with the network. With vast experience as a commentator and presenter, Oatley has notably covered football and darts for the renowned broadcaster.
Back in history 18 years ago, she made headlines as the first woman to provide commentary on BBC’s renowned show, Match of the Day. Since then, Oatley has maintained her presence across various platforms, including BBC, ITV, and Sky Sports.
Following the conclusion of the Players Championship Finals, Oatley confirmed her departure from ITV. She expressed gratitude for her time with the production team, highlighting her diverse roles over the years, from presenting football during Euro 2016 and World Cup 2018 to her extensive involvement in darts coverage.
Moving forward, ITV will continue to showcase darts on ITV4 and ITVX, now under the management of Eddie Hearn’s company, Matchroom. Notably, ITV has also parted ways with seasoned cycling and darts commentator, Ned Boulting, who acknowledged the end of his long-standing association with the network.
While ITV remains committed to broadcasting key tournaments such as the European Championship Finals, Players Championship Finals, and World Masters, Sky Sports has secured a new five-year deal to feature prominent events like the World Championship, World Cup of Darts, Premier League, and Grand Slam.
Niall Sloane, ITV’s director of sport, expressed satisfaction with the extended darts coverage, emphasizing the network’s dedication to offering top-tier darts events to viewers in the UK. PDC chief executive, Matt Porter, echoed this sentiment, celebrating the enduring partnership with ITV that continues to bring exciting darts action to fans.
Looking ahead, Sky has introduced a discounted Essential TV and Sky Sports bundle for the 2025/26 season, delivering substantial savings and access to a wide array of live matches across various sports leagues, including the Premier League, EFL, and more. Sky’s lineup boasts over 1,400 live matches annually, including a significant increase in live Premier League games, in addition to Formula 1, golf, darts, and other engaging sports content.
