Jacqui Oatley bids farewell to her long-standing tenure at ITV, spanning more than a decade. Renowned for her expertise in commentary and presenting, Oatley notably covered football and darts for the prominent terrestrial network.
Having made history nearly two decades ago as the first female commentator on BBC’s esteemed Match of the Day program, Oatley maintained her involvement with BBC, ITV, and Sky Sports over the years.
Following the conclusion of the Players Championship Finals, Oatley confirmed her departure from ITV, where she contributed to the channel’s darts coverage for over a decade. Expressing gratitude for her time with the exceptional production team, Oatley reflected on her varied roles, including presenting football and extensive darts coverage.
ITV will continue to broadcast darts on ITV4 and ITVX, now managed by Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom. Colleague Stuart Pyke lamented the departure of the ITV sports team, emphasizing their camaraderie and shared experiences at the Players Championship Finals.
In addition to Oatley, ITV also parted ways with seasoned cycling and darts commentator Ned Boulting. ITV’s commitment to showcasing darts tournaments remains strong, while Sky Sports secures a new five-year agreement for premier events like the World Championship and Premier League.
ITV’s director of sport, Niall Sloane, expressed enthusiasm for extending live darts coverage, ensuring top-tier events are accessible to UK audiences. PDC chief executive Matt Porter echoed this sentiment, highlighting the enduring partnership with ITV and the increased popularity of darts.
Sky introduces discounted packages for the upcoming season, offering extensive live sports coverage, including over 1,400 matches across various leagues. With a focus on delivering a wide array of live sports content, Sky continues to enhance its offerings, including the broadcast of 215 live Premier League games annually.