Jacqui Oatley has bid farewell to ITV after a lengthy tenure exceeding ten years. With a wealth of experience in commentary and presentation, Oatley has notably covered football and darts for the prominent terrestrial network.
Having made history nearly two decades ago as the first female commentator on BBC’s renowned show Match of the Day, Oatley has maintained her presence across BBC, ITV, and Sky Sports throughout the years.
Following the conclusion of the Players Championship Finals, Oatley confirmed her departure from ITV, where she had been part of the channel’s free-to-air darts coverage for over a decade. Expressing her gratitude, Oatley shared her sentiments on social media, highlighting her rewarding experience working with the exceptional production team.
While ITV will continue to broadcast darts on ITV4 and ITVX, the coverage will now be overseen by Matchroom, led by Eddie Hearn. The departure of Oatley and fellow commentator Ned Boulting marks a significant transition for ITV’s sports coverage landscape.
On a positive note, ITV’s commitment to showcasing major tournaments like the European Championship Finals, Players Championship Finals, and World Masters remains steadfast. Sky Sports has also secured a new five-year deal to broadcast premier events such as 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 providing top-tier events to the UK audience. The continued collaboration between ITV and the Professional Darts Corporation underscores the growing popularity of darts among viewers.
In a strategic move, Sky has enhanced its Ultimate TV and Sky Sports bundle by incorporating popular streaming services like HBO Max, Netflix, Disney+, and more, alongside comprehensive coverage of 135 channels and live sports action, including the Premier League, EFL, Formula 1, darts, and golf.
With over 1,400 live matches broadcasted annually, Sky remains a premier destination for sports enthusiasts, offering a diverse range of sporting content to engage fans across various disciplines.
