beINSports, a global network of sports channels jointly owned and operated by Qatar Sports Investments, will own the television rights to the next two men's World Championships, talking place in Qatar and Denmark, and the next two women's World Championships, to be hosted by France and Germany.

The firm, an affiliate of the Al Jazeera Media Network, will also be responsible for the television production of the four events.

Al Jazeera were announced as the global media rights partner for the Championships last December in a deal reportedly worth CHF100m (£68 million/$110 million/€81 million).

"I hope we will reach all handball enthusiasts worldwide with this new partnership in order to further develop our sport," said IHF President Dr Hassan Moustafa, who was joined at the governing body's headquarters in Basel to sign the agreement by IHF treasurer Sandi Sola and vice-president Miguel Roca Mas.

"I have some ideas and they have some ideas, and we have to see together how we can promote our sport.

"In four years we will evaluate where we are and which benefits we could take from this partnership."

The new deal with beINSports will cover the next two men's and women's World Handball Championships ©AFP/Getty Images



beINSports, which replaces former TV rights partner UFA Sports, was represented by general manager Nasser Al Khelaifi and Mohammed Al-Obaildly.

German-based UFA Sports had been World Championships rights-holder for the 2011 and 2013 World Championships in a deal reportedly worth about CHF60 million (£41 million/$67 million/€49 million).

"We love handball," said Al Khelaifi.

"It is a very popular sport and we can work more international now.

"Handball is very important for our network.

"So we try to promote it.

"Handball is fantastic and we want to be part of the success of the IHF.

"We are proud that beINSports is the new home of handball."

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