BBC TV CONTRACT FOR LAKESIDE WORLD DARTS TO 2010

BBC TV has announced that its exclusive contract with the British Darts Organisation to screen the World Professional Darts Championships is being extended to 2010.

Barbara Slater, Head of General Sport, BBC said: “We are delighted to renew this contract and continue to bring darts to the widest possible audience.”

As part of the agreement, BBC Worldwide, the commercial arm of the BBC, has also confirmed that it has extended its contract with the BDO for International television rights to the World Professional Darts Championships.

Olly Croft, Managing Director, BDO Enterprises Ltd. said:
“This is wonderful news for BDO darts and our players in the very year that we are celebrating the 30th Anniversary (1978 to 2007) of BBC Sport screening our World Professional Championships.

“It is a unique broadcasting partnership for darts, and we are extremely proud of it. There are very few sports which can boast of a BBC contract that is now in its fourth decade.”

The 2007 Lakeside World Professional Men’s Final was seen by a peak BBC-2 audience of 5 million – the highest World Final audience for six years.

Martin Adams was crowned 2007 World Champion in a dramatic and exciting 7-6 victory against Phil Nixon.