Sky Sports has released a UK-focused social film titled Club 180 ahead of the 2026 PDC World Darts Championship, marking its first campaign produced with creative agency Spike Sport.
Sky Sports has released Club 180a fictional darts nightclub produced with Spike Sport, Orillo Productions, director James Kibbey and the Professional Darts Corporation. The project is the first collaboration between Sky Sports and Spike Sport, a UK-based creative sports marketing agency within W Communications Group.
The film centres on the walk-on, a defining feature of darts, and was shot at Bemmyx in Bristol. It features appearances from Luke Littler, Stephen Bunting, Nathan Aspinall and other players, along with contributions from content creators and sports figures including James Maddison and Big John. Sky Sports presenters Emma Paton, Anna Woolhouse and Polly James also feature.
The release supports Sky Sports’s wider strategy of producing fan-focused content around major sporting moments. The 2026 PDC World Darts Championship is scheduled to begin on 11 December and will be shown live in the UK on Sky Sports and NOW.
Emma Paton, Sky Sports presenter, said, “The PDC World Championship have become synonymous with the festive period on Sky. Building on two record-breaking tournaments, we can’t wait to bring the fans all the action from Ally Pally with more players and sessions than ever before this year.”
“The walk-on is one of the best sights in sport and the moment that really ignites the crowd. I think we can all agree that Stephen Bunting will absolutely nail his thanks to all the practice at Club 180!”
The International Federation of Sport Climbing has introduced a new global brand identity under the name World Climbing.
The International Federation of Sport Climbing (IFSC) has introduced a new organisational brand, World Climbing, as part of its long-term plan to support the growth of the sport. Sport climbing has expanded significantly since the IFSC was established in 2007, including its debut at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games and an extended programme at Paris 2024.
The new brand has been created by Matta. Its development followed research into how the sport is practiced and engaged with globally. The brand identity includes a logo constructed from handholds and footholds used across the sport’s three disciplines of speed, lead and boulder, supported by a bespoke display typeface designed to reflect features found on climbing walls.
Additional brand elements include photography spaces shaped by the outline of climbing holds, a chalk-inspired texture and climbing-rope accents, alongside a gradient-based colour palette. These elements form part of a wider toolkit intended for use across World Climbing’s visual communications.
Matt Hunt, Strategy Director at MATTA said “We’re delighted to see this new, and highly distinctive, identity unveiled to the world. It’s been an absolute pleasure working with a tight team who are truly passionate about the development of climbing and we feel confident we have created a brand and purpose for the organisation that will continue to support its dramatic ascent for years to come.”
Fabrizio Rossini, Media & Communications Director at World Climbing (formerly IFSC) said, “I’m thrilled that we have been able to create a fresh and dramatic new identity for climbing that today we confidently present to the world, opening up the sport to new audiences – participants, fans and future partners. It was important that our identity respected the three core disciplines equally, and I’m sure it will enable us to continue to promote the growth of this sport we love”
Sunset+Vine has been appointed to produce the world feed and deliver host broadcast coverage for the 2026 ISU European Figure Skating Championships on behalf of British Ice Skating.
The competition is set to return to the UK for the first time in over a decade, taking place at the Utilita Arena Sheffield between 13th and 18th January 2026. As the penultimate major event before the Milan-Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games, the championships will feature 160 athletes from 35 countries competing across men’s, women’s, pairs, and ice dance disciplines.
Sunset+Vine will implement a camera plan featuring jib and super slo-mo cameras to capture technical elements and behind-the-scenes content. The production company is currently in its second year as media and production partner for the International Skating Union (ISU) Short Track World Tour.
Peter Angell, CEO, Sunset+Vine, said: “We’ve loved being a part of the skating world for the past 12 months together with the ISU, so we’re delighted to have been entrusted with providing the coverage of this flagship figure skating Championship by British Ice Skating. We’ll bring the athleticism, artistry, and raw drama of the sport to the screen with our usual world-class production values.”
Sale Sharks Women have agreed a new partnership with The Bread Factory.
The agreement sees the craft bakery become the club’s first-ever official bakery.
As part of the one-year deal, The Bread Factory logo will appear beneath the collar in the centre of Sale Sharks Women’s 2025/26 Macron home and away kits. The deal will also see the bakery sponsor two of the team’s international stars, club captain Georgie Perris-Redding and Morwenna Talling. The Bread Factory logo will appear on their warm-up shirts ahead of PWR and PWR Cup fixtures. Additionally, The Bread Factory will supply breads and pastries to the club’s men’s and women’s teams at their Carrington training complex.
Luisa d’Aprano, Commercial Director, Sale Sharks, said, “The Bread Factory sets standards in their world like we aim to set in ours. Their focus on quality ingredients, craft and innovation matches what we are building here at Sale Sharks. We want to be the very best in everything that we do on and off the field and that means partnering with businesses that share our values. We believe that our women’s team and women’s programme is on the cusp of something incredibly special and that’s reflected in brands like the Bread Factory joining the family. I’m excited to see what we can achieve together going forward.”
Adam Mellor, Food Service Commercial Manager, The Bread Factory, said, “For us as bakers, the quality of our breads and pastries starts with the ingredients and how they are baked. That’s why we care about how wheat is grown, how it’s milled, and how it is baked. With our mission to be the best bakery in the world while providing bread that is as good for people as it is for the planet, it is important to work with partners who share that commitment. Partnering with Sale Sharks Women allows us to support the players with nutritious breads and ingredients we trust.”
Target Darts has announced a new collaboration with gaming brand Xbox.
The partnership has been designed to merge the worlds of darts and gaming, a crossover largely driven by current world number one Luke Littler. Xbox has sponsored Littler since early 2024, recognising his interest in gaming prior to his run at the World Darts Championship.
The collaboration has launched just ahead of the 2026 World Darts Championship, where Littler will be pursuing back-to-back titles. The initial product range includes an Xbox and Target co-branded dartboard and surround, Xbox branded K-Flex flights, and a limited edition art piece dartboard restricted to 200 units.
This move follows a year for Target Darts, which has also rolled out collaborations with Disney and Star Wars, alongside taking on the day-to-day management of Littler.
James Butcher, Creative Director at Target Darts, said, “At Target, every design starts with performance. Xbox shares that same obsession with elevating play. Together, we’ve created products that bring the best of darts and gaming to the oche.”
Samuel Bateman, Marketing Lead at Xbox UK, said, “We’re excited to extend our presence in darts as Xbox through this partnership. Our ongoing sponsorship of Luke Littler, which began with his remarkable breakthrough at last year’s World Championships, has been incredibly rewarding, and this collaboration with Target Darts represents a natural next step; being able to offer fans an exciting new way to connect with both Xbox and the sport of darts.”
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