ITV has announced a revamped broadcasting team for 2026 as part of a new agreement with the PDC. Luke Littler, the reigning world champion, is set to return to the spotlight after his impressive triumph at Ally Pally.
In light of the upcoming coverage, ITV has unveiled the programming lineup following the confirmation of their fresh three-year partnership with the PDC. The channel will showcase matches from various prestigious events such as the World Masters, UK Open, World Series of Darts Finals, European Championship, Players Championship Finals, and global World Series of Darts tournaments.
Leading the coverage as hosts will be Sky Sports presenter Pete Graves and Gabbie Partington, who will kick off their duties with the upcoming World Series of Darts double-header in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia. The new punditry team on ITV includes renowned figures like Wayne Mardle and Glen Durrant, along with former PDC star Mark Webster and ex-World Matchplay semi-finalist Chris Mason. Changes are also expected in the commentary booth setup.
Dan Dawson will team up with talkSPORT commentator Mark Wilson, while veteran broadcaster Ian Danter will continue to play a role in the broadcasts. PDC Chief Executive Matt Porter expressed delight over the extended partnership with ITV, highlighting the significance of offering free-to-air coverage to UK darts enthusiasts.
Niall Sloane, ITV Director of Sport, expressed pleasure in expanding and prolonging their live darts coverage, emphasizing the commitment to provide top professional darts events for UK viewers to enjoy without subscription barriers. The Bahrain Darts Masters is set to kick off soon, with Stephen Bunting and Luke Littler set for exciting matches.
Furthermore, Sky has enhanced its Ultimate TV and Sky Sports bundle by adding HBO Max, Netflix, Disney+, discovery+, and Hayu, offering a comprehensive package with 135 channels and extensive coverage of the Premier League, EFL, Formula 1, darts, and golf. Sky continues to be a prime broadcaster, showcasing over 1,400 live matches across various sports leagues alongside a diverse range of entertainment content.
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