Matt Porter

Matt Porter is the Chief Executive of the Professional Darts Corporation, a post he has held since January 2008. A former press officer and chief executive at Leyton Orient, he runs the PDC under its chairman, Eddie Hearn, and since April 2021 has also been Chairman of Matchroom Multi Sport. As chief executive he has fronted the PDC's broadcasting agreements, venue deals and the expansion of its tour across Europe and beyond.

Leyton Orient

Porter joined Leyton Orient in 2001 as press officer and held that role for five years. In the summer of 2006, aged 26, he was made chief executive by the club's chairman, Barry Hearn, becoming the youngest chief executive in English football. His appointment coincided with Orient's promotion to League One, and the club went on to narrowly miss out on promotion at the end of the 2013/14 season. He also served on the board of the Football League.

PDC Chief Executive

Porter became PDC Chief Executive in January 2008, and Companies House lists Matthew Richard Porter as a director of The Professional Darts Corporation Limited since 7 January 2009. Matchroom credits him with overseeing the introduction of the European Championship, the Players Championship Finals, the World Cup of Darts and the European Tour, and the PDC's development structure of Qualifying School, the Challenge Tour and the Youth Tour.

When Barry Hearn stepped aside in April 2021, Porter was appointed Chairman of Matchroom Multi Sport while remaining in charge of the PDC.

Recent agreements

In February 2025 Porter announced a five-year extension keeping Sky Sports as the PDC's main broadcaster until 2030. In October 2025 the PDC extended its ITV deal until at least 2028, taking the partnership beyond 20 years and moving production of ITV's coverage to the PDC. In December 2025 he confirmed a five-year agreement keeping the World Darts Championship at Alexandra Palace until at least 2031, with the event moving into the Great Hall from 2026/27. He said: "Ally Pally at Christmas is the identity of the tournament."

In June 2026 the PDC agreed a deal with ESPN to show its events in the United States, and in October 2026 Porter backed an expanded Championship Darts Corporation tour in North America. The 2027 calendar, announced in September 2026, adds a European Open in Salzburg with a £750,000 prize fund, expands the European Championship to 48 players and £1 million, and takes the European Tour to France for the first time.