Jacqui Oatley has bid farewell to ITV after more than a decade with the network. With extensive experience as a commentator and presenter, Oatley has been a prominent figure in covering football and darts for the popular broadcaster.
In a historic move 18 years ago, the 50-year-old became the first female commentator on BBC’s renowned program, Match of the Day. Since then, she has continued to contribute to BBC, ITV, and Sky Sports over the years.
However, Oatley’s time with ITV has come to an end after the conclusion of the Players Championship Finals. Having been a part of the channel’s free-to-air darts coverage for over 10 years, Oatley confirmed her departure on Monday, expressing her sadness at the news.
Sharing her sentiments on social media, Oatley wrote: “Leaving @ITVSport after a decade working with an exceptional production team. It has been an incredible journey covering football, including Euro 2016 and World Cup 2018, alongside extensive darts events. Grateful for the opportunity to collaborate with such talented individuals.”
ITV will continue broadcasting darts on ITV4 and ITVX, now under the management of Eddie Hearn’s company, Matchroom. Fellow commentator Stuart Pyke also acknowledged the change, expressing his appreciation for the past 17 years of collaboration on ITV Sport’s darts coverage.
Moreover, ITV has parted ways with experienced cycling and darts commentator Ned Boulting, who shared his reflections on the conclusion of his contracts with the channel.
Looking ahead, ITV will showcase various tournaments, including the European Championship Finals, Players Championship Finals, and World Masters. On the other hand, Sky Sports has secured a new five-year agreement to air major events like the World Championship, World Cup of Darts, Premier League, and Grand Slam.
ITV’s director of sport, Niall Sloane, emphasized the network’s commitment to expanding and enhancing its live darts coverage and maintaining popular events accessible to UK viewers. PDC chief executive Matt Porter echoed the sentiment, expressing delight in the continued partnership with ITV, highlighting the growing enthusiasm for darts coverage.
In a move to enhance viewer experience, Sky has introduced discounted pricing for its Essential TV and Sky Sports bundle for the upcoming season, offering a substantial number of live matches across various sports, including the Premier League, EFL, and more.
With a promise of over 215 live Premier League matches each season and an array of other sports content, Sky continues to cater to sports enthusiasts with an extensive lineup of programming options.