The 2025 Promi-Darts World Championship, held on January 5, aired on the recently renamed ProSAcht network, bringing significant excitement and competition to viewers across Germany. The event saw slightly over 1 million viewers, achieving impressive television ratings.
This year, the event experienced notable success with ProSAcht recording a market share of 14.6% among its target demographic, which includes viewers aged 14 to 49. This marks an increase from previous years, where ratings stood at 12.7% and 13.1% back in early 2024 and 2023, respectively. Although the total audience saw a slight decline from approximately 1.1 million to about 1.02 million, ProSAcht proudly secured the title of the strongest commercial broadcaster during the broadcast period.
Among all broadcasters, only 'Das Erste' managed to outperform ProSAcht on the night, thanks to the popular show "Tatort," which captivated an average of 9.94 million viewers, reaching impressive ratings of over 35 percent market share. The show's strong performance indicates the stiff competition for viewer attention on Sunday evenings.
Despite the successful ratings, the event faced disappointment with the absence of its reigning champion, Luke Littler. The newly crowned darts world champion opted to skip the exciting tournament to take a well-deserved break. Citing age restrictions and youth protection laws, Littler, still only 17, would not have been able to participate due to the event's late scheduling. Reports indicate Littler's absence was attributed to these regulations, emphasizing the challenges young athletes face when it involves national broadcasting rules and the timing of events.
Instead of Littler, three-time world champion Michael van Gerwen stepped up to fill the void. Van Gerwen had recently lost to Littler at the World Championship finals and showcased his skills again on this larger platform at the Düsseldorf Maritim Hotel. The event was highlighted by the entertaining antics of various celebrity participants. Reality TV star Evelyn Burdecki unsuccessfully attempted to impress the crowd with her dart-throwing skills, humorously missing the target and hitting the wall instead on two occasions.
Yet, not all the celebrity entries fell short of expectations. Popular Schlagersängerin Vanessa Mai put forth commendable effort, coming close to making history by potentially being the first woman to win the Promi-Darts title. The finale was thrilling and showcased strong competition until the former soccer player and TV expert Patrick Owomoyela, alongside English professional darts player Stephen Bunting, emerged victorious.
Viewers were entertained right from the beginning, as the ProSAcht channel introduced additional programming leading up to the event, including engaging documentary segments featuring the vibrant backdrop of Las Vegas. This segment achieved 13% market share among viewers sought after by advertisers, indicating strong viewer retention before the darts competition began.
Hollywood and celebrity style entertainment often find their way onto such platforms, and it's reflected in the high-profile personalities participating. The mix of well-known characters attracts not just darts enthusiasts but also average viewers, showing the unique blend of sporting prowess and star power. This dynamic allows events like the Promi-Darts World Championship to tap successfully on people’s love for both sports and lifestyle entertainment, promising something for everyone.
The ratings growth this year might herald great prospects for future editions, with ProSAcht realizing the importance of creating compelling content. With early projections showing strong interest for next year's events, and potentially thoughtful scheduling around youth regulations, it may attract new audiences alongside the loyal fans.
Even with some viewers disappointed by not seeing Littler defend his title, the strategic moves by ProSAcht seem to have paid off. Rising qualities of entertainment, emotional celebrity involvement, and exciting sportsmanship have established the Promi-Darts as not just another program, but as a staple amid Sunday night programming.
Future events will likely see more creative efforts to maintain and even expand viewer engagement, keeping this thrilling blend of darts and entertainment firmly planted on the viewer's radar. Stakeholders, including advertisers and audience members, are eager to see how ProSAcht capitalizes on the interest built so far as the 2026 Promi-Darts World Championship approaches.