The BBC have extended their partnership with the Professional Darts Corporation to 2019 to broadcast the Champions League of Darts. The deal means that the next three editions of the tournament will remain on terrestrial television which made its debut on the channel last year after dropping the rights to the BDO World Darts Championship.
In announcing the deal a change of format to the Champions League was announced as the winner of the previous years’ tournament will get an automatic invite back into the competition for the next year. This means that Phil Taylor won beat Michael van Gerwen in last years final will get an automatic invite despite teetering in eighth spot on the PDC Order of merit.
With this years edition set to take place on the weekend of September 16-17 Barry Hearn PDC chairman said that “The Unibet Champions League of Darts was a massive success last year and this new deal is a reflection of how delighted the BBC were to have the very best players in the sport on terrestrial TV,”
As champion Phil Taylor automatically qualifies for the tournament whilst Michael van Gerwen, Gary Anderson and Peter Wright all mathematically assured of qualification for the tournament which has a £100,000 first prize.
Henry Deacon
Henry Deacon Media 