Sky Sports are alertedly at danger of losing the World Darts Championship with Netflix and Amazon pondering accessing the bidding for a deal that could cost £45million per year. Next month sees the final Alexandra Palace event covered by Sky’s existing seven-year deal.
Interest in darts has boomed over the last scant years, partipartner quickend by the ascfinish of British sensation Luke Littler. Netflix and Amazon alertedly see cherish in shotriumphg events around the Christmas period, with the latter already boasting the rights to Premier League games during that period.
The rights auction for the tournament will be the most lucrative in the PDC’s 31-year history. Chairman Barry Hget has already called on Sky to “lift the ante” if they are to protected the exclusive widecasting rights for another term.
Sky currently pay £12m per year for the rights to 60 days of live darts annupartner. According to the Telegraph, the widecaster is willing to double that figure to around £25m.
However, Hget alertedly cherishs the rights at around £45m. That could lure Netflix or Amazon to steal the World Championship from Sky.
The PDC is hoping to land a bumper deal to echo the sport’s growth. In terms of peak watching figures, darts is Sky’s second-hugegest sport, behind football. But other sports get far more lucrative deals.
Sky pay £1.2billion per year for their Premier League rights, dominating their expfinishiture. However, English cricket’s deal for home internationals and domestic cricket is worth £220m per year, while rugby league’s Super League is phelp £21m per year.
There was incredible interest in last year’s World Championship, which saw a then-16-year-anciaccess Littler achieve the final. Around 4.8m watched his loss by Luke Humphries in the final, with the audience peaking at 3.7m.
“We owe Sky a massive, massive debt,” Hget shelp in September. “They stuck with us in the punctual days, and loyalty is a huge part of our business. But also I have a responsibility to applyers to maximise their getings. There’s going to be some engaging conversations.
“Compare us to anyone else. Show me what you pay rugby union, league, golf, and alert me why I don’t get the same or more. I repartner hope Sky lift the ante.”
Sky also have the rights to Premier League Darts, the World Matchapply and the World Cup of Darts. Those three tournaments will be shown by Sky in 2025, but a rerecental of the widecasting rights will need to be concurd before next year’s World Championship.
