Darts is arrowing up on the Luke Littler wave so we spoke to PDC CEO Matt Porter
Mar 7, 2024
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The podcast discusses the rise of young darts star Luke Littler and the 2023/24 World Darts Championship. PDC CEO Matt Porter talks about professionalizing darts and reaching new audiences. The conversation covers the business side of darts and the surge in interest in the sport.
The 2023/24 World Darts Championship final broke records in viewership, signaling darts' rising popularity on non-football platforms.
The strategic focus of expanding darts globally, attracting new audiences, and developing young talents is revolutionizing the sport.
Deep dives
Evolution of Darts and Global Expansion
Darts has evolved from a pub game to a professional sport attracting a diverse audience. The strategic focus is on expanding into new regions like Eastern Europe and Southeast Asia to build a global darts community. Efforts are being made to make the sport accessible worldwide and ensure that players from different countries have opportunities to compete at the highest level.
Rise of Young Talent and Self-Taught Players
The emergence of young talents like Luke Littler highlights a shift in player development. Self-taught players are honing their skills through technology, apps like Dark Connect, and practicing at home rather than traditional pub venues. This approach is changing the perception of darts and attracting a new generation of skilled players.
Changing Sponsorship Dynamics and Brand Partnerships
Sponsorship dynamics are evolving with a focus on engaging new audiences and diverse demographics. Brands are exploring partnerships beyond traditional sectors like bookmakers to align with the changing image of darts. Partnerships are now driven by data, engagement, and a broader understanding of audience preferences.
Future Vision: Building a Global Darts Community
The future vision for darts involves creating a global darts community that transcends borders and unites players and fans worldwide. The goal is to establish a more inclusive and accessible sport where players from various regions can participate without the need to relocate. The aim is to develop a robust pyramid structure that supports players at all levels across different territories.
4.8 million people tuned in to watch the 2023/24 World Darts Championship final between Luke Littler and Luke Humphries across Sky Sports' channels - a record for a non-football broadcast on the UK pay-TV network. Since then, Premier League Darts' has also seen increased interest and a spike in viewers as fans tune in to see 16-year-old sensation Littler's matches. The man making sure the sport capitalises on this wave in interest is PDC CEO Matt Porter, so we invited him on the podcast to discuss the booming business of darts.
Talking points:
Porter's journey to PDC CEO (1:04)
Professionalising darts (3:13)
Luke Littler and the 2023/24 World Darts Championship (15:50)
Reaching new audiences and changing times (26:34)
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