THE Ladbrokes.com World Darts Championship will be live on Sky Sports until 2013, following a new deal announced on Thursday.
The Professional Darts Corporation will now mark 20 years of exclusively live World Championship coverage on Sky Sports at the climax of the new four-year agreement, which starts next year.
Sky's new deal is announced on the eve of the 2009 Ladbrokes.com World Darts Championship.
Since its start at the Circus Tavern, Purfleet, in 1994 the event has grown from 24 entrants to 70, extended from six to 13 days and crowds have trebled.
By 2010 the Ladbrokes.com World Darts Championship will have a prize pool of £1 million, 15 times the original sum.
Vic Wakeling, Managing Director of Sky Sports said: "The PDC World Darts Championship has grown into one of sports' most colourful events and I'm delighted it will continue to be a part of our Christmas and New Year schedules for another four years."
PDC chairman Barry Hearn added: "Sky Sports have taken televised coverage of darts to a new level since 1994 and played a major role in the development of PDC tournaments into the biggest the sport has ever seen.
"We're delighted to continue our association with them for the Ladbrokes.com World Darts Championship, which will be the highlight of the festive period for players, fans and viewers."
Sky will show this year's event in High Definition, the first time darts will be broadcast in HD.
Every match will be shown exclusively live, beginning with the opening session on Friday evening when reigning champion John Part opens his defence against Bill Davis of the USA.
2009 Ladbrokes.com World Darts Championship
Friday December 19 to Sunday January 4
Exclusively live on Sky Sports and Sky Sports HD
Click here to read about Sky Sports' High Definition coverage of the 2009 Ladbrokes.com World Darts Championship