How to Watch PDC Players Championship Events Live and on TV in the UK, USA and Australia
PDC Players Championship events represent the backbone of professional darts’ tour schedule, with 34 tournaments throughout the 2026 season offering tour card holders crucial ranking points and prize money. But unlike the sport’s major televised tournaments, watching these events requires a different approach. Here’s your complete guide to catching all the action from Players Championship events worldwide.
What Are Players Championship Events?
Before diving into viewing options, it’s important to understand what makes Players Championship events unique. These are the PDC’s ProTour tournaments—single-day competitions featuring all 128 tour card holders battling through a knockout format. Each event contributes to both the main PDC Order of Merit and a separate Players Championship Order of Merit, with the top 64 from the latter qualifying for the season-ending Players Championship Finals.
Players Championships aren’t broadcast on traditional television. Instead, they’re streamed exclusively online, making them accessible to global audiences but requiring specific subscriptions or accounts to watch.
PDCTV: The Primary Streaming Platform
What is PDCTV?
PDCTV (also known as PDCTV-HD) is the PDC’s official streaming service, providing live coverage of Players Championship events, European Tour tournaments, Women’s Series events, and UK Open Qualifiers. For Players Championships specifically, PDCTV represents the primary and most comprehensive viewing option.
Coverage Details:
- Live streaming from four boards simultaneously – Fans can toggle between different matches happening at the same time
- Approximately 39 matches broadcast live per event (up from 21 in previous years)
- Full-day coverage starting at 1:00 PM local time
- On-demand replays and highlights available 24 hours after each session
Subscription Costs:
- Monthly Subscription (UK & Ireland): £4.99
- Monthly Subscription (Rest of World): £9.99
- Annual Subscription (UK & Ireland): £49.99
- Annual Subscription (Rest of World): £59.99
Geographic Availability:
Here’s where it gets slightly complicated. PDCTV’s availability varies by event type and location:
For Players Championship Events:
- Available worldwide including UK, Ireland, USA, Australia
- No blackout restrictions for these tour events
- Live streaming accessible in all territories
For Major Televised Events:
- NOT available for live streaming in UK, Ireland, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Netherlands
- Highlights available on 24-hour delay for all subscribers worldwide
- These blackout restrictions apply to events like World Championship, Premier League, World Matchplay, etc.
Since Players Championships aren’t shown on traditional TV, PDCTV coverage is available everywhere without geographic restrictions.
How to Subscribe:
- Visit PDCTV.tv (or video.pdc.tv)
- Create an account with your email address
- Select monthly or annual subscription based on your location
- Payment via credit/debit card or PayPal
- Immediate access to live and archived content
United Kingdom – Viewing Options
PDCTV: The primary option for UK fans. Players Championship events are fully available on PDCTV without blackout restrictions, unlike major tournaments where Sky Sports holds exclusive rights.
Cost: £4.99/month or £49.99/year
Betting Site Streams: UK-based betting operators like Bet365, William Hill, and Paddy Power offer live streams of Players Championship events to customers with funded accounts.
Requirements:
- Must have a funded betting account
- OR have placed a bet within the last 24 hours
- Geographic restrictions may apply
- Free to watch once account requirements are met
Important Note: These streams aren’t technically “free”—they require maintaining a balance or betting activity. They’re best viewed as a bonus feature for existing customers rather than a primary viewing method.
Audio Coverage: TalkSPORT 2 provides radio commentary for selected major events but typically doesn’t cover Players Championships. For audio-only coverage of tour events, PDCTV remains the best option as their stream includes commentary.
United States – Viewing Options
PDCTV: The most straightforward option for American fans. Players Championship events stream live on PDCTV without restrictions.
Cost: $9.99/month or approximately $69.99/year (prices shown in local currency)
NBC/Peacock: While Peacock has become the PDC’s American broadcast partner for major tournaments like the World Championship, Premier League, and Grand Slam, Players Championship events are NOT included in their coverage. Peacock focuses exclusively on televised major events.
Betting Sites: Some US-based sportsbooks offer PDC streams to customers, though availability varies by state due to gambling regulations. Check with FanDuel, DraftKings, or BetMGM in states where these operators are licensed.
Australia – Viewing Options
PDCTV: Available to Australian subscribers with full access to Players Championship events.
Cost: AU$18.99/month or AU$109.99/year
Fox Sports / Foxtel: Fox Sports through Foxtel holds broadcast rights for major PDC tournaments in Australia. However, Players Championship events are NOT shown on Fox Sports or Foxtel. These platforms focus on televised major tournaments only.
Kayo Sports: Similarly, Kayo Sports—which streams Fox Sports content—does NOT carry Players Championship events. Kayo is excellent for watching major tournaments but won’t help for ProTour coverage.
Betting Site Streams: Australian betting operators may offer Players Championship streams. Check with major licensed bookmakers, though account funding requirements will apply.
Canada – Viewing Options
PDCTV: Canadian fans can subscribe to PDCTV for full Players Championship coverage.
Cost: CA$17.99/month or CA$111.99/year
DAZN: While DAZN has PDC broadcast rights in Canada for some events, Players Championships typically aren’t included. DAZN focuses on major televised tournaments. Check their schedule, but expect to need PDCTV for comprehensive ProTour coverage.
Other International Markets
Netherlands:
- PDCTV available for Players Championships
- Viaplay holds rights for major tournaments but not ProTour events
Germany, Austria, Switzerland:
- PDCTV available for Players Championships
- DAZN and Sport1 cover major tournaments only
Poland:
- PDCTV available
- Viaplay covers major tournaments
Belgium:
- PDCTV available
- VTM carries major tournaments
New Zealand:
- PDCTV available
- Sky Sport NZ covers major tournaments
Other Territories: If you’re in a country not listed, PDCTV is almost certainly your best option. The PDC’s official streaming service works globally and specifically includes Players Championship coverage as a core part of its offering.
What You Get With PDCTV
Beyond Players Championships, a PDCTV subscription provides:
Live Streaming:
- All European Tour events (except in Germany, Austria, Switzerland where DAZN has exclusivity)
- Women’s Series events
- UK Open Qualifiers
- Development Tour events
- Selected Challenge Tour events
On-Demand Content:
- Full match replays from all events
- Highlights packages (24-hour delay for televised majors)
- Classic matches from PDC archives
- Documentary content and player features
Additional Benefits:
- Multi-board viewing for tournaments with simultaneous matches
- HD quality streaming (dependent on internet connection)
- Priority ticket access for some PDC events (annual subscribers)
- No commercials during live coverage
Technical Requirements
Internet Speed:
- Minimum: 5 Mbps for standard definition
- Recommended: 10 Mbps or higher for HD streaming
- 25+ Mbps for optimal experience with multiple device streams
Compatible Devices:
- Desktop/laptop computers (Windows, Mac, Linux)
- Smartphones (iOS, Android)
- Tablets (iOS, Android)
- Smart TVs with web browsers
- Streaming devices (via web browser or mirroring)
Note: PDCTV doesn’t currently have dedicated apps for smart TVs or streaming devices like Roku, Fire TV, or Apple TV. You’ll need to use web browsers or screen mirroring from mobile devices.
2026 Players Championship Schedule
The 2026 season features 34 Players Championship events, typically staged in clusters throughout the year:
Schedule Pattern:
- Events usually held Thursday-Sunday
- Multiple tournaments per weekend common
- Venues rotate between UK and European locations
- Each event is a single-day tournament
First Events:
- Players Championship 1: February 9, 2026
Major Clusters:
- February/March: Early season events
- April/May: Spring tour swing
- June/July: Mid-season tournaments
- August/September: Autumn schedule
- October/November: Final tour events
Players Championship Finals: The season-ending Players Championship Finals (November) IS a televised major tournament, shown on ITV4 in the UK and available through standard broadcast partners. This is the only Players Championship event with traditional TV coverage.
Why Aren’t Players Championships on TV?
The simple answer: logistics and economics. Broadcasting 34 single-day tournaments throughout the year would require enormous resources from TV networks, and the viewing figures for each individual event wouldn’t justify the expense.
The multi-board streaming format serves several purposes:
- Allows dedicated fans to follow specific players throughout the day
- Provides coverage of far more matches than TV could accommodate
- Keeps subscription costs reasonable while maintaining comprehensive coverage
- Offers flexibility for viewers across global time zones
Tips for Watching Players Championships
Follow Your Favorites: With four boards streaming simultaneously, use the toggle feature to follow specific players. Check the draw in advance (available on PDC website) to plan which matches you want to watch.
Time Zones: Events typically start at 1:00 PM UK time. Calculate accordingly:
- US East Coast: 8:00 AM
- US West Coast: 5:00 AM
- Australia EST: Midnight (next day)
- Central Europe: 2:00 PM
Quality Settings: If experiencing buffering, reduce video quality in player settings. PDCTV offers multiple resolution options to accommodate different connection speeds.
Social Media Integration: Follow @OfficialPDC on Twitter/X for real-time updates, scores, and highlights even if you can’t watch live. The PDC app also provides live scoring.
The Bottom Line
For comprehensive Players Championship coverage, PDCTV represents the essential subscription for serious darts fans worldwide. While regional betting sites offer alternative streams, PDCTV provides the most reliable, high-quality, and complete coverage of the PDC’s tour events.
Major televised tournaments have varied broadcast options depending on your location—Sky Sports (UK), Peacock (USA), Fox/Kayo (Australia)—but Players Championships live exclusively in the streaming world. Budget accordingly: if you want to follow the tour comprehensively, PDCTV is a necessary investment.
At roughly $10/£5 per month, it’s competitively priced compared to other sports streaming services, and the annual option offers significant savings for committed fans. With 34 Players Championships plus European Tours, Women’s Series, and other content, you’re getting substantial value for the subscription cost.
Whether you’re following Luke Littler’s relentless pursuit of more titles, tracking rising stars battling for tour cards, or simply love the sport’s depth beyond major tournaments, PDCTV unlocks the comprehensive PDC experience that casual TV coverage simply can’t match.
The 2026 season is already underway. Subscribe, set your alarms for tournament days, and immerse yourself in the oche action that shapes the sport’s competitive landscape week after week, month after month.
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