World Rowing have agreed a four-year renewal of a media rights deal with the European Broadcasting Union ©Getty Images

The World Rowing Federation (FISA) have agreed a four-year renewal of their partnership with the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), which covers media rights for their premier competitions.

As part of the agreement, top rowing competitions from Europe and the rest of the world have been granted to the EBU from 2017 to 2020.

"Our relationship with the EBU started in the early 1980s and it has been a long and increasingly successful one," said Jean-Christophe Rolland, FISA President.

"We have all seen and experienced the fast-moving developments that are influencing the televising and distribution of sports events, and I remain confident that by staying with public service network broadcasters, our sport is in excellent and professional hands.

"The coverage and promotion of rowing has continued to build through the EBU membership and its various platforms.

"I look forward to a highly collaborative and productive relationship with the EBU and its members through to 2020."

The agreement includes the World Rowing Championships in 2017, 2018 and 2019, as well as the annual World Rowing Cup series.

The 2019 edition of the World Championships will act as the qualification event for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

The 2019 edition of the World Championships will act as the qualification event for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games ©Getty Images
The 2019 edition of the World Championships will act as the qualification event for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games ©Getty Images

Also included in the agreement are the European Rowing Championships, with the 2018 edition set to be part of the inaugural European Championships multi-sport event in Glasgow.

The sport will be one of seven featured at the first edition of the event in two years' time, with rowing action taking place in Strathclyde Country Park in the Scottish city.

The opening event of the renewed agreement will be the first regatta of the 2017 World Rowing Cup series in Belgrade, with the competition in Serbia’s capital scheduled to take place from May 5 to 7.

"Rowing is one of the few sports to have been part of the Olympic Games since the start and thanks to FISA it has evolved to bring its excitement to viewers worldwide," says Julien Ternisien, the EBU's head of sports rights for summer sports.

"That FISA has once again entrusted the EBU and its members with giving rowing’s marquee events the free-to-air exposure they deserve tells of a thriving partnership that will continue to grow in strength."