Free-to-air TV coverage of snooker is being radically shaken up.
Big changes are coming for snooker.
Snooker pundits and commentators are reportedly among several members of production staff facing the axe in a big change to top events. At the World Championship in Sheffield, a host of behind-the-scenes figures were allegedly informed that they face uncertain futures alongside those working in darts.
From 2026, Matchroom Media will increase its production of both sports, according to The Sun. They will take charge of all events aside from those on Sky Sports and the BBC. That means snooker events on ITV such as the British Open, Champion of Champions, Players Championship and Tour Championship will be impacted.
At the oche, PDC events such as the Masters, UK Open, European Championship, Players Championship finals and seven World Series of Darts events fall under that umbrella.
At the Crucible in Sheffield, staff including pundits, commentators, floor managers and make-up assistants were reportedly told that they are likely to see their freelance work soon dry up as a result.
When asked about the ITV snooker events being commandeered by a new team, Matchroom Sport founder Barry Hearn praised those who delivered previous events but said: “It’s nearly done.
“There’s going to be a mixture of broadcasters because quite honestly, broadcasters like snooker. You know, it’s delivering ratings. We live in a numbers game. ITV4 has been fantastically successful for us in the numbers it’s got.
“So, obviously some of the other stations want snooker. And I think in the next couple of weeks we will lay out the deals that we’ve done. It’s going to involve a multiple number of broadcasters. Some free-to-air, some behind the pay-model.
“But it’s a compliment to where snooker is that it’s in demand. We need to be more encouraging to the younger market, which involves talking to them in the language that they understand and the medium that they understand. And that’s why the world is becoming more digital. The future is more Netflix than free-to-air.
“People will be able to watch what they want to watch, the sports they want to watch, when they want to watch it and for a price they can afford. I find that really exciting.”
Hearn’s comments will strike fear into those hoping to watch snooker on free-to-air TV. The World Grand Prix has already been moved off terrestrial airwaves after the event was taken out of the UK to Hong Kong.
After 10 years on British soil, ITV ditched the tournament after Kai Tak Sports Park was confirmed as the new venue.
A statement at the time said: "ITV Sport has enjoyed a brilliant relationship with the Snooker World Grand Prix over the years.
"Due to the change in location to Hong Kong and the live broadcast timings for a UK audience, unfortunately we will not be showing the tournament next year. We hope to be able to continue our working relationship in the future."
BBC broadcast each of the Triple Crown events, the World Championship, UK Championship and Masters, and are not impacted by the new deal.
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