Baku, Azerbaijan, Nov. 6
Trend:
Baku 2015 European Games has signed a deal with Tokyo Broadcasting System (TBS) Television to provide coverage of next summer's inaugural event in Japan.
The free-to-air channel has secured exclusive rights to the 17 days of competition including the Opening and Closing Ceremonies, as well as highlights packages across all of their domestic platforms.
"We are delighted to have confirmed this deal with TBS Television to ensure the European Games will receive exposure in the Japanese market," Mr. Simon Clegg, Chief Operating Officer of Baku 2015, said.
"As a keen sporting nation, we are sure there will be significant interest in Baku 2015 so it is extremely pleasing to know fans will be able to tune in to the best of all the action," he said.
TBS is a commercial broadcaster with a nationwide network including 28 affiliates across the country. The broadcaster also operates the general programming satellite channel BS-TBS and the 24-hour news channel NewsBird, as well as a nationwide radio network.
TBS has been the exclusive broadcaster in Japan of the IAAF World Athletics Championships since 1997 and is a member of the consortium of Japanese broadcasters which covers the Olympic and Olympic Winter Games, the FIFA World Cup and the Asian Games.
The broadcaster also serves as the home of The Masters, The PGA Championship, Major League Baseball and the FIVB World Volleyball Championships in Japan.
"The Baku 2015 European Games will be an historic event and we are proud to begin what we are sure will develop into a long and fruitful partnership," Mr. Masamichi Amano, Executive Vice President of TBS Sports, said.
"We look forward to presenting the inaugural European Games to our viewers across Japan and also introducing all that Baku has to offer the world," he said.
The agreement is the latest secured by Baku 2015 and follows on from recently announced deals with the Arab States Broadcasting Union, which will see the European Games broadcast in 20 countries across the Middle East and North Africa, and L'Equipe 21 which will show the event throughout France.
"This is the first deal we have announced with an Asian broadcaster and represents a significant step in achieving our aim of ensuring the inaugural European Games is broadcast in all five continents around the world," Mr Charlie Wijeratna, Commercial Director of Baku 2015, added.
Baku 2015 is the first ever European Games, an exciting and innovative multi-sport event for the continent which will take place from 12 - 28 June 2015.
There will be a total of 20 sports at Baku 2015: 16 Olympic sports and four non-Olympic sports. More than 6,000 athletes from across Europe will be representing their nations over 17 days of competition.
Eleven of the sports will offer qualification opportunities for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. Those sports include Archery, Athletics, Boxing, Cycling, Shooting, Swimming, Table Tennis, Taekwondo, Triathlon, Wrestling and Volleyball.
Baku was awarded the Games by the European Olympic Committees (EOC) in December 2012. The Baku European Games Operations Committee (BEGOC) will organize and run the Games in cooperation with the EOC.