The exclusive arrangement extends a current deal which is due to expire in 2018, and will last from then until the 2021-22 campaign.

It continues a 23-year partnership between the two organisations which dates back to 1993, when the IBU was founded.

The EBU and rights-holding members will have access to a minimum of 36 IBU World Cup events with more than 220 races, as well as three World Championships with 33 races.

Various other IBU events will be included, guaranteeing free-to-air coverage of elite biathlon competition on multiple platforms. 

In all, 350 hours of live TV content is promised during the time-frame.

IBU President Anders Besseberg said: "Today it is not enough for a sport to be on TV - today you must also be on the right TV channel and also have a product which the hundreds of millions of TV viewers want to see.

"Over more than 20 years the IBU and the EBU have jointly been able to develop biathlon into one of the most popular winter sports on TV in Europe. 

"We are therefore very pleased to have the EBU as our TV partner in the period 2018-2022.

"We are looking forward to further developing our sport together with EBU and making biathlon even more accessible to new groups of fans."

Stefan Kuerten, the EBU's director of Eurovision Services and Sports Rights, added: "We are pleased and proud to prolong our excellent cooperation with the IBU, which often serves as a template for other sports Federations.

"Our multiple-services approach fits perfectly to the needs of the IBU, which delivers top, professional-class events to the rights holders.

"We are also pleased to share a long-term view of such developments.

"The result is for all to see.

"With our long term partner, the IBU, we are all aiming to build on our success and further strengthen the partnership with our biathlon friends."