Jacqui Oatley bids farewell to ITV after a distinguished tenure of more than ten years with the network. A seasoned commentator and presenter, Oatley has been a prominent figure in football and darts broadcasting on terrestrial television.
Having made history nearly two decades ago as the first woman to provide commentary on BBC’s renowned program Match of the Day, Oatley has maintained a versatile career spanning BBC, ITV, and Sky Sports. However, her chapter at ITV seems to have concluded following the recent Players Championship Finals.
Expressing her gratitude and fond memories, Oatley shared her farewell message on social media, highlighting her experiences covering football events like Euro 2016 and World Cup 2018, alongside extensive darts coverage. She praised the dedicated production team and her colleagues for their hard work and commitment to enhancing the viewer experience.
Moving forward, ITV will continue airing darts tournaments on ITV4 and ITVX under the management of Eddie Hearn’s company Matchroom. This transition marks the departure of Oatley and fellow commentator Ned Boulting from ITV’s sports coverage.
On the broadcasting front, ITV will persist in 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 premier events like the World Championship, World Cup of Darts, Premier League, and Grand Slam.
Niall Sloane, ITV’s director of sport, affirmed the network’s commitment to expanding live darts coverage, ensuring accessibility to top-tier darts competitions for UK audiences. The partnership with the Professional Darts Corporation reflects ITV’s dedication to broadcasting popular events.
Sky Sports has also announced significant cost reductions for its Essential TV and Sky Sports bundle for the upcoming 2025/26 season, offering a substantial discount and an extensive array of live matches across various sports leagues, including the Premier League, EFL, and more.
With a robust lineup of over 215 live Premier League matches annually, Sky Sports continues to deliver premium sports content, including Formula 1, golf, and darts, catering to diverse sports enthusiasts.