Jacqui Oatley has bid farewell to ITV after a lengthy tenure of more than ten years at the network. Oatley, a seasoned commentator and presenter, has been a prominent figure in football and darts coverage on mainstream television.
Having made history nearly two decades ago as the first female commentator on BBC’s renowned show Match of the Day, Oatley has maintained her presence on both BBC and Sky Sports, alongside her contributions to ITV. However, her association with ITV has now come to a close following the conclusion of the Players Championship Finals. Oatley, who has been a key part of ITV’s free-to-air darts coverage for over a decade, confirmed her departure on Monday, expressing her sentiments as “very sad.”
In a post on social media, Oatley shared her gratitude for the past ten years working with ITV Sport, highlighting her experience presenting football events such as Euro 2016 and World Cup 2018, and consistently covering darts. She praised the production team and all the individuals involved in creating the broadcasts, emphasizing their dedication to delivering a quality viewer experience.
With Oatley’s exit, ITV’s darts coverage will continue on ITV4 and ITVX under the management of Eddie Hearn’s company Matchroom. Colleague Stuart Pyke lamented the departure of the ITV team, expressing appreciation for their camaraderie and hoping for a memorable farewell at the Players Championship Finals.
Ned Boulting, an experienced cycling and darts commentator, also bid farewell to ITV, acknowledging the end of his long-standing association with the channel. ITV remains committed to showcasing various tournaments, including the European Championship Finals, Players Championship Finals, and World Masters. Concurrently, Sky Sports has secured a new five-year agreement to broadcast major darts events, ensuring a robust lineup for fans.
ITV’s director of sport, Niall Sloane, affirmed the network’s dedication to expanding live darts coverage and maintaining key partnerships within the sport. The Professional Darts Corporation’s chief executive, Matt Porter, echoed the sentiment, celebrating the enduring collaboration with ITV and the continued availability of free-to-air coverage for UK audiences.
In other news, Sky has introduced a discounted Essential TV and Sky Sports bundle ahead of the upcoming season, offering substantial savings and a wealth of live matches across various leagues. Sky’s commitment includes a significant increase in live Premier League games for the upcoming season, providing fans with even more exciting match coverage.
