The agreement gives TVB, which is available to all 2.4 million households in Hong Kong, exclusive rights to show the inaugural European Games in the territory on free-to-air and pay television.

TVB joins the likes of the United States' Universal Sports Network, China Central Television and India's NEO Sports in agreeing a deal with Baku 2015 beyond Europe's borders. 

"Interest in the European Games continues to widen," said Simon Clegg, chief operating officer of Baku 2015.

"TVB will be our 56th broadcast partner, and Hong Kong joins the Arab world, the United States, Canada, mainland China and India in seeing the Games outside Europe - and I am sure there will be more to come.

"It is a real testament to the appeal of this important addition to the international sporting calendar."

Television Broadcasts Limited is a regular broadcaster of the Summer and Winter Olympic Games ©Getty Images



TVB is a regular broadcaster of the Summer and Winter Olympic Games and the FIFA World Cup, and recently announced it will televise Rio 2016.

"Sport is central to our broadcast strategy," said Patrick Li of TVB.

"We have consistently brought the people of Hong Kong high-quality events - such as the Olympic and Winter Olympic Games as well as the FIFA World Cup - and the European Games is a comfortable fit with that approach."

No fewer than 12 of the 16 Olympic sports featured at Baku 2015 will provide qualification opportunities for Rio 2016, comprising archery, athletics, boxing, cycling, judo, shooting, swimming, table tennis, taekwondo, triathlon, volleyball and wrestling.

The European Games are scheduled to take place from June 12 to 28. 

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March 2015: Exclusive: Baku 2015 Games "confident" of British and Russian TV coverage as India deal announced, says Clegg