FOXTEL GROUP & SKY NZ CONFIRMED AS BROADCAST PARTNERS FOR THE PDC ANZ PREMIER LEAGUE AS THE QUALIFICATION STRUCTURE AND PRIZE POOL IS CONFIRMED
The inaugural PDC ANZ Premier League will be broadcast on Foxtel and Kayo Sports in Australia and Sky in New Zealand as the broadcasters build their existing partnership with the sport.
All eight nights of the ANZ Premier League will be available live to audiences in Australia and New Zealand from October, where the eventual champion will earn $30,000 and secure a place in the 2025/26 Paddy Power World Darts Championship.
The qualification structure and $160,000 prize fund for the inaugural ANZ Premier League has also now been confirmed, with seven places up for grabs for players to compete alongside Australian legend Simon Whitlock, who will headline the eight-night event across Australia and New Zealand in October and November.
Whitlock has flown the flag for Australian darts for over two decades at the sport's highest level, winning the 2022 World Cup alongside Damon Heta, as well as claiming a European Championship title and reaching the 2009/10 PDC World Championship final.
He will be joined by seven other Oceanic stars in the ANZ Premier League, which will include the top two players from the new Australian Darts Association, which will stage 12 events across three weekends from June-September.
The top three non-qualified players from the domestic DartPlayers Australia ProTour will also qualify, alongside two players from the DartPlayers New Zealand circuit - with the DPNZ ProTour champion joined by their Top 16 Play-Off winner.
Organised with leading sports promoters TEG Sport, each night of the ANZ Premier League will feature the atmosphere and thrills of sport’s greatest party, beginning on Saturday October 4 at John Cain Arena in Melbourne.
The action then moves to the Newcastle Entertainment Centre on October 11, visits Canberra's AIS Arena on October 18 and heads to the MyState Bank Arena in Hobart on October 25.
Saturday November 1 sees Round Five being held at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre before the stars cross the Tasman Sea to visit the TSB Arena in Wellington on November 8.
The Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre will stage Round Seven on Saturday, November 15, before the event concludes at the Nissan Arena in Brisbane on November 22.
Tickets are available from Ticketek.
The ANZ Premier League, offering $160,000 in prize money, will reflect the current format of the PDC's Premier League - with each of seven league nights being a knockout between the eight players.
League nights will be played over the best of nine legs, with points awarded as follows:
Winner - 5 points
Runner-Up - 3 points
Semi-Finalists - 2 points
The Play-Offs on Saturday November 22 in Brisbane will feature the top four players from the final league table, playing semi-finals over the best of 15 legs and the final over the best of 19 legs.
The eventual champion will earn $30,000 and secure a place in the 2025/26 Paddy Power World Darts Championship.
The runner-up will take home $24,000, and each of the semi-finalists are guaranteed $20,000.
PDC Chief Executive Matt Porter said: "Foxtel and Sky New Zealand are important and long-standing broadcast partners of the PDC and we're delighted that they will be showing the PDC ANZ Premier League later this year.
"There has been a great buzz since we initially announced this event with TEG Sport late in 2024, and to be able to confirm the format, prize fund and qualification structure is another big step.
"Players from across the Oceanic region have their chance to secure one of the seven coveted spots available alongside Simon Whitlock now for what promises to be a memorable inaugural event."
Foxtel Group Director of Content Acquisitions and Sports Partnerships, Adam Howarth said: “In and amongst the large range of sport available on Foxtel and Kayo Sports, darts remains extremely popular.
“We’re proud of the history we have in darts and through this agreement, we are continuing to use our scale to support the growth of the sport. These events will be loud, colourful and stacks of fun and we are stoked to be able to showcase this new generation of players to our subscribers.”
Sky New Zealand Chief Content and Commercial Officer, Jonny Errington, said: “We are really pleased to be bringing this new ANZ regional competition to New Zealanders. Darts is a perennial favourite for our customers and this will be a stand-out addition to our calendar of darts competitions.”
2025 PDC ANZ Premier League
Round One: Saturday October 4 - John Cain Arena, Melbourne
Round Two: Saturday October 11 - Newcastle Entertainment Centre
Round Three: Saturday October 18 - AIS Arena, Canberra
Round Four: Saturday October 25 - MyState Bank Arena, Hobart
Round Five: Saturday November 1 - Adelaide Entertainment Centre
Round Six: Saturday November 8 - TSB Arena, Wellington
Round Seven: Saturday November 15 - Gold Coast Convention & Exhibition Centre
Round Eight – Play-Offs: Saturday November 22 - Nissan Arena, Brisbane
Tickets are available from Ticketek.
Prize Fund Breakdown
Winner: $30,000 + place in 2025/26 World Darts Championship
Runner-Up: $24,000
Semi-Finalists: $20,000
Fifth in league table: $16,000
Sixth in league table: $16,000
Seventh in league table: $16,000
Eighth in league table: $16,000
Total Prize Pool: $160,000