ITV bolsters its sports coverage with two new deals in a year that’s seen the broadcaster lose sports to rivals. ITV4, which turns 20 on 1 November, will benefit from ITV’s latest deals.
- The FIFA U-17 World Cup Qatar 2025 and PDC Darts secured for ITV4 and streaming on ITVX.
- Follows the loss of snooker and cycling coverage from ITV4’s schedule.
- The new deals arrive as ITV4 celebrates its 20th anniversary on air this weekend.
In a newly announced agreement with FIFA, ITV will broadcast the FIFA U-17 World Cup Qatar 2025, marking the first time the youth tournament will be shown on the network. Coverage will include all three of England’s group stage matches, with select knockout fixtures airing free-to-air on ITV4 and streaming via ITVX. The tournament kicks off on 3 November 2025, with the final scheduled for 27 November.
Separately, ITV has confirmed a multi-year extension of its partnership with the Professional Darts Corporation (PDC). While full details of the deal were not disclosed, the agreement ensures continued coverage of key darts events on ITV4, reinforcing the channel’s commitment to showcasing top-tier sporting entertainment.
Welcome boost for ITV4
These new rights acquisitions are expected to be well received by sports fans. At one point this year, it looked like ITV4 was seriously losing its position as a free-to-air sports destination. ITV4 is losing its live coverage of snooker and cycling, previously big fixtures in the channel’s schedules. ITV as a whole also lost out on NFL coverage, which is now on 5 and 5Select.
After a series of sports rights losses, there has been some good news for ITV of late. The broadcaster has been able to retain some sports: it recently confirmed it would remain the home of live horse racing until 2030. ITV4 and ITVX will also continue to broadcast Formula E.
As ITV4 marks two decades on air, the channel can at least look forward to retaining some sport. Across ITV as a while, its sports portfolio include the Six Nations Championship, British Touring Cars, Formula E. ITV also holds the rights to cover major international men’s football tournaments including UEFA Euro 2028 and the FIFA World Cup 2026.
ITV4’s history
ITV4 launched on 1 November 2005 – 12 months after its sibling ITV3. The launch was part of ITV’s gradual return to digital TV after its first-generation digital terrestrial TV service ITV Digital went bust in 2002.
Initially, the channel ran for 12 hours a day, starting each evening at 6pm.
Since the very beginning, ITV4 has blended sports with classic action drama and movies. It took over from ITV2 as ITV’s sports ‘spill over’ channel. As the years progressed, ITV invested in more sports coverage that would only be broadcast on ITV4, later simulcast on its streaming service.
By: Marc Thornham | Image: ITV