Jacqui Oatley bids farewell to ITV after more than a decade with the network. The seasoned commentator and presenter, known for her work on football and darts, notably made history as the first female Match of the Day commentator on BBC 18 years ago. Despite her ongoing involvement with BBC, ITV, and Sky Sports, Oatley’s tenure with ITV concludes after the Players Championship Finals.
In a social media post, Oatley expressed gratitude for her time at ITV, highlighting her experiences covering football events like Euro 2016 and World Cup 2018, as well as her long-standing involvement in darts. She praised the professionalism and dedication of her colleagues, acknowledging their commitment to delivering quality content for viewers.
While ITV will continue airing darts on ITV4 and ITVX, the coverage will now be overseen by Matchroom, led by Eddie Hearn. This transition marks the end of an era for ITV’s sports broadcasting team, as fellow commentator Stuart Pyke and cycling/darts commentator Ned Boulting also part ways with the network.
Looking ahead, ITV remains committed to showcasing major darts tournaments, including the European Championship Finals, Players Championship Finals, and World Masters. In contrast, Sky Sports secures a new five-year agreement to broadcast prestigious events like the World Championship, World Cup of Darts, Premier League, and Grand Slam.
ITV’s Director of Sport, Niall Sloane, emphasized the network’s dedication to expanding live darts coverage and maintaining a strong partnership with the Professional Darts Corporation. PDC’s Chief Executive, Matt Porter, echoed this sentiment, expressing delight in the extended collaboration with ITV and the opportunity to offer free-to-air access to popular darts events for UK audiences.
Moreover, Sky enhances its Ultimate TV and Sky Sports bundle by including popular streaming services like HBO Max, Netflix, Disney+, discovery+, and Hayu, alongside a comprehensive channel lineup that covers the Premier League, EFL, Formula 1, darts, and golf. With over 1,400 live matches broadcast, Sky continues to be a go-to destination for sports enthusiasts seeking diverse and extensive coverage.