Marcel Maijer on broadcasting Dutch Darts Masters: ''I would love nothing more than to broadcast more tournaments''

On January 26 and 27, the Dutch Darts Masters is scheduled. The World Series tournament will also be shown on RTL 7. Presenter Marcel Maijer spoke in an interview with DoubleTop about bringing in this tournament.

It will be the first time since the 2022 World Championship that RTL has acquired the broadcast rights to a PDC tournament. Two years ago the broadcasting rights were taken over by Viaplay. This streaming service will also broadcast the Dutch Darts Masters.

The World Series tournament in Den Bosch will feature a number of world-class players, including Michael van Gerwen, Raymond van Barneveld, world champion Luke Humphries and teenage sensation Luke Littler. Maijer is very excited about the lineup. ''If you were to make your own schedule, you would put these names in it.''

The presenter explains to Double Top how the deal between RTL and the PDC came about. ''I spoke with Matthew Porter, the big boss of the PDC, at the big sports fair in Monaco. He said that the PDC eventually would be interested in broadcasting the Dutch Darts Masters on an open channel to generate a little more attention.'' Maijer did not find it very surprising that the PDC knocked on RTL's door to broadcast the tournament.

''Viaplay has the rights to darts for five years. The ratings there are also not as high as on an open channel. Many people don't have Viaplay now either, because there is no Formula 1 to watch at the moment.'' Maijer indicates that the PDC, however, has not yet offered the prospect of broadcasting more tournaments. ''I would love nothing more than to broadcast more tournaments, but I also understand that it doesn't work that way. A lot of money has been paid for those rights by Viaplay.''

Maijer also gives an insight into how RTL 7 will handle the broadcast. ''I go with a small team to the Maaspoort. It is much more fun to broadcast on location. On Friday we have Kim Huybrechts as analyst. On the Saturday I have Ron Meulenkamp with me.''