Length of contract: 4 years | Annualised value: US$500,000 | Overall value: US$2m

The Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) has agreed a deal with Sky Sports that secures live coverage for the World Darts Championship on the company’s sports channels until 2013.

The culmination of the four-year agreement will mark 20 years of live World Championship darts coverage on Sky Sports that has seen the competition expand from 24 to 70 entrants.

It now lasts 13 days and, in 2010, will have a prize pool of US$1.5 million.

"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," said Vic Wakeling, managing director of Sky Sports.

"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," added PDC chairman Barry Hearn.

"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."

This year's event also marks the first time the competition has been broadcast in HD.