The deal was one of seven announced by the WSBC, with the leading national networks in Asia having been awarded broadcast rights in their respective countries.

Under the terms of the agreement with J-Sports, the network will serve as the host broadcaster of the Under-15 Baseball World Cup, producing 27 of the 39 World Championship games contested at the tournament.

They will provide live, daily action across three of its four channels to their 6.5 million subscribers, as well as producing post-game highlights packages to be distributed worldwide on the WBSC's social media platforms.

The tournament is due to begin on July 29 and will continue to August 7.

J-Sports' agreement extends their previous partnership with the WBSC, which saw them broadcast the Premier12 and the Under-18 Baseball World Cup.

"WBSC is thrilled that J SPORTS - one of Japan's premier sports networks - has added this exciting youth Under-15 Baseball World Cup property to its portfolio," said Riccardo Fraccari, WBSC President.

"And with expertise of J SPORTS as the host broadcaster, fans and audiences worldwide will be offered live major event coverage for the Under-15 Baseball World Cup for the first time ever, as they follow their favourite National Teams and the next generation of stars competing for the world title in Iwaki."

South Korean broadcaster SBS have been awarded broadcast rights across all media platforms, including mobile, online and television, for the tournament, while Chinese Taipei’s biggest sports channel, Videoland, will have rights to television and online platforms in the country.

Indonesia's biggest satellite TV service provider, Indovision TV, Malaysian content and consumer group ASTRO and Skynet in Myanmar have also struck exclusive broadcast rights in their respective nations.

Eleven Sports Network in Singapore have also obtained rights.

Defending champions Cuba are to play against world number one ranked Japan in Group A of the tournament, with Australia, the Czech Republic and South Korea.

The United States, Mexico, Panama, Chinese Taipei, New Zealand and Venezuela will contest Group B, before the knock-out phase of the competition begins.

The WBSC claim the agreements show the sport’s strong international appeal as they await the decision on whether baseball and softball will be included on the sport programme for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.

A joint bid between baseball and softball is one of five sports set to be added to sport's biggest stage, along with karate, skateboarding, sport climbing and surfing, subject to approval at the IOC Session in Rio de Janeiro next month.

All five have been given the green light by Tokyo 2020 and the IOC Executive Board and all are likely to be confirmed at the Session.

"These latest agreements further underline the sport of baseball's place atop Japan's sporting landscape and highlight the strong demand of the Japanese public for more international baseball content, while also helping position baseball and softball among the top youth sport properties in the world,” said Fraccari.

“And this is another valuable piece that can help our sport earn a place on the biggest stage in world sport, the Olympic Games, and help connect the Olympic Movement to millions of young athletes and new audiences."