The WBSC Premier12, due to take place between November 8 and 21, will be the top international baseball event of the year, offering a multi-million dollar prize pool and the biggest payout of world ranking points and bringing together the men's professional national teams from the Top 12 countries in the world rankings for the first time ever.

The agreement with TBS and TV Asahi, two of the most wide-reaching broadcasting networks in Japan, covers free-to-air television delivery of the event.

The agreement follows the announcement in May of the full schedule, tournament bracket and list of venues of the inaugural WBSC Premier12.

"The WBSC is thrilled to partner with TBS and TV Asahi to showcase this new and very exciting Premier12 global baseball platform," said WBSC President Riccardo Fraccari.

"Matching the WBSC Premier12 with two of Japan's premier broadcasters like TBS and TV Asahi ensures the most comprehensive and highest quality coverage possible for Japan's national audience, who are some of the most discerning and enthusiastic baseball fans in the world."

Fraccari also claimedthe agreement with TBS and TV Asahi was a major boost for the sport's bid to regain its place on the Olympic programme at Tokyo 2020. 

Baseball and softball is one of eight sports who been shortlisted to be added to the Games and are due to give a presentation to Tokyo 2020 officials in the Japanese capital on August 7 and 8 

The WBSC Premier12 global baseball battle is due to open with top-ranked Japan and world number eight South Korea on November 8 at Japan's 40,000-seat Sapporo Dome, bringing the rivals' together for the first time in six years, while the Premier12 semi-finals and finals will take centre stage at the iconic Tokyo Dome.

Expanding on the agreement, broadcast rights in Japan for the 2015 WBSC Under-18 Baseball World Cup - scheduled to to be staged in Osaka from August 29 until September 6 - were also awarded to TV Asahi.

"Given the current growth trends of our international baseball products, we anticipate that the viewership for the 2015 WBSC Under-18 Baseball World Cup in Japan will exceed the record numbers set in 2013 and this is highly important for the global positioning and appeal of our sport, particularly among young people," said Fraccari.

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May 2015: Top ranked Japan and United States to meet in group phase of inaugural WBSC Premier12 tournament
January 2015:Tokyo Dome to host final stages of inaugural WBSC Premier 12 as baseball increases Olympic drive
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December 2014:MP & Silva win rights for new flagship international baseball competition
November 2014:Japan lead the way as line up unveiled for inaugural Premier 12 World Baseball Championships