BBC signs new darts deal

The BBC will broadcast the Champions League of Darts after acquiring the rights to the inaugural tournament.

Broadcast live, it will feature eight leading players from the Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) and be held in Cardiff on 24^th – 25^th September.

The first Champions League of Darts will be broadcast live across the BBC.https://t.co/LWWTR7OnQp pic.twitter.com/K3rElHxuz7

— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) February 9, 2016

With the British broadcaster now set to air the new event, it will end its coverage of the BDO World Championship. The BBC declined to renew its 38-year contract with the professional body, which it has aired every year since 1978.

PDC chairman Barry Hearn said the “very best players” will be participating in the Champions League of Darts, which he called an “exciting, quick-fire tournament”.

Barbara Slater, director of BBC Sport, said: “Darts has always had wide appeal and it is great that audiences will get the chance to see all the action from the world’s top players live on BBC Two and across our platforms.”

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