MUMBAI: The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) has secured exclusive media rights for European qualifiers of Uefa Euro 2016 and 2018 Fifa World Cup in 30 countries.

This deal will cover the media rights to all national team matches (home and away) across all media platforms for each EBU Member within its respective country. It also includes host broadcasting services for nearly 300 matches to be provided by EBU Members in high definition.

The EBU and its participating members will guarantee substantial free-to-air coverage and have reaffirmed, with this agreement, their position of natural broadcast partner for national team football in Europe.

EBU President Jean-Paul Philippot said: "We are delighted that the EBU - on behalf of its Members - is one of the first Uefa broadcast partners for this ambitious new European Qualifiers competition. We are especially proud that European public service media continue to be the partner of choice for Uefa, Uefa?s national associations and their national teams, thus bringing the passion and excitement of national team football to the widest possible audience."

With this major new deal, the EBU and its Members will benefit from an enriched portfolio of national team football media rights, complementing the rights previously acquired to the 2014, 2018 and 2022 Fifa World Cups.