"Viewing figures are second only to Premier League football" - PDC chairman Eddie Hearn credits Luke Littler for rising popularity of darts
PDCWednesday, 03 April 2024 at 10:00
Darts is arguably as widely popular as it has been in a long long time. A lot of that recent success, the sport owes that in part to the rise of Luke Littler.
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The then 16-year-old Littler caused a sensation at the last World Darts Championship, where he managed to reach the final as a debutant. PDC chairman Eddie Hearn also saw that reflected in the ratings. "We're seeing our viewing figures, the one thing is darts is continuously disrespected really as a sport," Hearn recently told Piers Morgan. "The viewing figures are second only to Premier League football, and actually during the World Championship, they were on the same level as Premier League football. No other sport, you go and look at these viewing figures, the tennis, the golf on Sky versus darts."
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Littler was also invited to the Premier League Darts this year. Although not everyone was convinced this was a good choice. "During that period (World Darts Championship ed.), the PDC board make their final selection about the Premier League, which is our weekly roadshow around the UK and now Europe as well," Hearn recalls. "At this point, Luke had just got into the semi-finals and we said, 'You've got to put Luke Littler in.'"
"There was a lot of members of the board who really care deeply about darts who said, 'Now we have a duty to protect this young man," he continues. "'He's 16, do we really want to be putting him under that pressure and on this stage, week in, week out,' and our answer was, 'Yeah, absolutely, sling him in.'"
Kieran WoodDarts Journalist
Kieran Wood is a sports journalist based in Wales and has been active in journalism since 2022. He contributes to DartsNews.com, where he covers professional darts through news, match reports, analysis, and live coverage across the PDC calendar and major tournaments.
A key part of his work is on-site reporting from leading events. Kieran has covered the PDC World Darts Championship in person, reporting daily from the venue and providing first-hand insight from the tournament. During his coverage, he has conducted interviews with leading players including Luke Littler, Luke Humphries, and Gerwyn Price.
He is also one of the leading voices of the English-language Dartsnews Podcast, contributing regular analysis and discussion on developments across the professional darts circuit.
In his reporting, Kieran places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles when new, verified information becomes available.
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- What a nice comment by Wade. Top bloke.BandB15-09-2026
- He wasn't "offered £501,000 to face Luke Littler". He was allowed to audition for the chance. That's not the same. Literally like saying I was offered a no.1 single, when actually I decided not to attend an open casting for the X factor.BandB13-09-2026
- I loved Jan and loved his walk on music "Explode" by Jordan & Baker. I think if he stuck around the BDO he definitely would have been World Champion, should have won in 2014, he never really showed any of his talent in the PDC. I remembered he worked in a bank or in finance and maybe that was his priority, he was also a fan and interested in magic. Definitely should have achieved much more in darts than he did. Wherever you are nowadays Jan, hope all is well and I was always a fan.richieburnettrocks11-09-2026
- Not much of a tournament really,is it? Now they've all pulled out,it's open for everyone. I'm sure if you bought tickets,you'd be disappointed. Doesn't that seem to bother the withdrawals? Not at all!!rick6710-09-2026
- Need to see her take part in the womens tour. She'll break the inernet.medinabello08-09-2026
- If he can be bothered? He won't play darts in Germany yet he'll go over and get an award!??rick6702-09-2026
- Why is this the main story? He chose not to compete in loads of tournaments,yes he's number 1 in the world,but he does have to turn up at tournaments! Play the next world championship in Dortmund and see if he turns up!!rick6727-08-2026
- This is exactly what I mean,littler survives the 1st round,I think you'll find a lot of other players did. Can you just report on the real sport,and not just 1 person. I like Luke,but this is getting boring now,as Kevin painter once said to Taylor!! The sport is about every player,not 1 who everyone seems to have put the sport on the map.,which he hasn't,he's just got in when the money is massive. Great as he is,it seems like what's the point in anyone trying,he's going to win everything,unless it's in Germany or Australia!!!rick6726-08-2026
- I mean look, Littler's picture is first,wattimena is second and he won! Level it up. I know littler is fantastic,but the sport was here before him,and will be when he's retired. Any player in the top 64/128 can beat each other,it's not big news. Poor Jermaine,wins it,and not even the headline!!rick6726-08-2026
- I appreciate that littler is a fantastic player,but the top 3 articles are about him. Before he'd thrown a dart in the tournament. Level it out a bit, Taylor and van gerwen soon got disliked as the media could only see them,and nobody else seemed to matterrick6725-08-2026
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