In a first for hockey, brand new cable and satellite channel Xports will show all Korea’s preliminary and classification matches live at the women’s Samsung Hockey Champions Trophy starting later this month in Canberra, Australia.

It will be the first time that an FIH major event taking place outside Korea has received guaranteed widespread exposure.

“We hope this partnership with Xports signals an opportunity to gain long-term exposure for hockey in Korea in order to develop our sport there,” Els van Breda Vriesman, FIH President said.

“The decision to change our television strategy to in-house at the beginning of this year was made specifically to address the issue of gaining exposure in new territories and this advance proves that we are already making ground.”

Established as recently as 6 April this year, the Xports rapidly attained a reach of more than 10 million Korean households (77% of total cable population) within three months of its launch, through acquiring rights to major events such as Major League Baseball, WWE, Primera Liga soccer and US Open Tennis.

The Samsung Hockey Champions Trophy will be held in Canberra, from Saturday, 26 November, until Sunday, 4 December.

The tournament will feature the world’s top six women’s teams – Netherlands, Argentina, Germany, Australia, China and Korea – competing in a round robin format before the playoff matches on the final day.