International sports streaming platform DAZN has extended its rights deal with the Professional Darts Corporation (PDC), across Germany, Austria, and Switzerland (DACH).
Through a deal unveiled earlier today (starting next January), that streaming heavyweight will carry on as the regional broadcast partner of the PDC until the end of 2031 at the earliest, with the tie-up covering all top-tier PDC events.
Go deeper with GlobalData
Discover B2B Marketing That Performs
Combine business intelligence and editorial excellence to reach engaged professionals across 36 leading media platforms.
However, instead of sub-licensing rights to the iconic, annual World Darts Championship – and other premier events – out to German broadcaster Sport1, as it does during the current cycle, it has instead struck a carriage deal for that event with Sport1's rival ProSiebenSat.1.
ProSiebenSat.1 – as was originally reported by German outlet DWDL – will cover a range of top-tier PDC events between 2027 and 2031, while Sport1's own sub-licensing agreements with DAZN will be cut back (to the Premier League, the Grand Slam of Darts, the Players Championship Finals, as well as specific events from the European Tour and the World Series of Darts).
All told, the World Darts Championship has been covered in Germany by Sport1 since 2004.
The original DAZN-PDC deal in DACH dates back to 2017, with a renewal in January 2022 that stretches through to December of this year.
US Tariffs are shifting - will you react or anticipate?
Don’t let policy changes catch you off guard. Stay proactive with real-time data and expert analysis.
By GlobalDataAlice Mascia, chief executive at DAZN DACH and Belgium, has commented: "Darts has evolved from a niche sport into an iconic live entertainment phenomenon in the DACH region. We're excited to offer fans even more darts content in the years ahead."
It has been reported that DAZN beat RTL Germany to these rights, in renewing with the PDC and Matchroom Sport (the PDC's parent company and promoter).
Matt Porter, the PDC's chief executive, added: "DAZN has been an outstanding partner and has played a key role in growing the popularity of PDC darts in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland."
In Germany, the conclusion of the most recent World Darts Championship in January – won by England's Luke Littler – was watched by two million people.
Matchroom Sport has already unveiled one significant extension with DAZN in the last 24 hours – its Matchroom Boxing division has renewed an exclusive deal with DAZN across the UK and the US, as well as giving DAZN Australian rights for the first time.
DAZN will continue as the home of Matchroom Boxing fights and fighters for the next five years, and will cover over 30 bouts organized by the promoter – led by Barry and Eddie Hearn – each year.
Henrik Pabst, ProSiebenSat.1's chief content officer, has also commented on the new deal: "Darts captivates millions of people. The World Championship has developed into a sporting highlight with cult status in recent years. With the darts broadcasting rights, we are consistently setting another important milestone in our sports strategy."
ProSiebenSat.1 will cover the London-held World Darts Championship live and free-to-air, as well as on the Joyn streaming platform, every year through the length of the deal.
Well-known German darts players competing on the PDC circuit currently include Martin Schindler, Ricardo Pietreczko, Gabriel Clemens, and Max Hopp.
