BBC Worldwide hits the mark with Eurosport darts deal

In the build-up to the Lakeside World Professional Darts Championship, 7-15 January, BBC Worldwide has announced a brand new three-year deal, with the pan-European cable and satellite sports channel, Eurosport, for live and delayed coverage of the World Championships.
The deal, which excludes the UK, allows Eurosport to broadcast up to 20 hours of coverage from the tournament, commencing this year, until 2008. It is the first time that the Lakeside event has been broadcast across Europe in this way.
Commenting on the deal, Richard Hornsby-Smith, Sport Sales Manager at BBC Worldwide, said: “We are thrilled to have reached this agreement with Eurosport. The Lakeside World Professional Darts Championship is stronger than ever, with huge TV audiences both in the UK and the Netherlands. Eurosport’s coverage of the Championships will help to gain an even wider audience for the sport.”
Olly Croft, Managing Director of the British Darts Organisation (BDO), said: “We are delighted that BBC Worldwide have been able to bring Eurosport on-board. Eurosport’s far reaching popularity throughout Europe will add considerably to the global coverage of BDO darts."
The tournament will feature defending champion Raymond van Barneveld of the Netherlands, who will attempt to become the first player to win five World Championships on the famous Lakeside stage.
(CD)