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BBC and ESPN in darts coverage agreement

BBC and ESPN in darts coverage agreement

BBC Sport have reached an agreement with ESPN to provide live coverage of the 2012 Lakeside World Professional Darts Championships.

ESPN will broadcast both evening sessions of the opening weekend of January 7th and 8th, plus every weekday evening session from January 9th to 13th live and exclusively.

Its coverage will also include the second semi-final exclusively live on Saturday, January 14th and highlights of the 2012 Lakeside World Final, on Sunday, January 15th. The addition of the tournament extends ESPN’s darts offering: in September ESPN broadcast its first live darts programming in the UK, the 2011 Winmau World Masters.

Barry Gilbey, Chairman BDO Enterprises Ltd commented, “Both ESPN and the BBC are brand leaders in televised sport and we are delighted that the 2012 World Professional will benefit from their combined technical expertise and knowhow. These are exciting times for our players as the BDO moves ever forward in its mission statement to provide darts for all.”

ESPN’s live televised darts coverage will be led by Ray Stubbs, presenter of both the BDO World Professional Darts Championships and the Winmau World Masters for several years during his career with the BBC. All ESPN discussion and analysis will come live from the tournaments, capturing the environment and connecting viewers to the unique atmosphere of live darts.

The BBC will screen live and exclusive coverage of the afternoon sessions of the tournament over the opening weekend of January 7th and 8th. There will be extended BBC afternoon highlights from Monday, January 9th to Friday, January 13th, plus late-night highlights on BBC Two and extra action on BBC Sport online. Additionally, the first semi-final will be broadcast live on the BBC on Saturday, January 14th, plus exclusive live coverage of the final on Sunday, January 15th.

The BBC Coverage is presented by Colin Murray, who will once again joined by two-time World Championship runner-up Bobby George.

Commentary for both broadcasters will come from David Croft and Tony Green. The World Professional Darts Championship features star players including Martin Adams, reigning World Masters and three times World Professional Darts Championship title holder and Ted Hankey, twice championship winner.

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