Jacqui Oatley has officially departed from ITV after a decade-long tenure with the network. Known for her expertise in commentary and hosting, Oatley has been a prominent figure in covering football and darts for the major terrestrial broadcaster.
Nearly two decades ago, Oatley made history as the first female commentator on BBC’s renowned show Match of the Day. Since then, she has maintained her presence across BBC, ITV, and Sky Sports platforms throughout the years.
Following the conclusion of the Players Championship Finals, Oatley bid farewell to ITV, where she had been a key part of the channel’s darts coverage for over 10 years. Expressing her gratitude, she shared her final moments on duty with the ITV Sport team, highlighting her years of involvement in presenting football and darts events.
While ITV will continue airing darts on ITV4 and ITVX, the coverage will now be overseen by Matchroom, led by Eddie Hearn. The network has also parted ways with seasoned cycling and darts commentator Ned Boulting, signaling the end of their long-standing collaborations.
In contrast, Sky Sports has secured a new five-year deal to broadcast major darts tournaments, including the World Championship, World Cup of Darts, Premier League, and Grand Slam. ITV’s Director of Sport, Niall Sloane, expressed enthusiasm over the extended partnership with the Professional Darts Corporation, ensuring continued free-to-air coverage for UK audiences.
Looking ahead, Sky has announced a significant price reduction for its Essential TV and Sky Sports bundle for the upcoming 2025/26 season, offering extensive coverage of over 1,400 live matches, including Premier League, EFL, Formula 1, golf, and more. With an increased number of live Premier League games each season, Sky continues to deliver a diverse range of sports content to its viewers.