The International Hockey Federation’s drive to increase the global exposure of hockey has continued with the launch of WorldHockey.tv, an Internet television channel.

WorldHockey.tv will provide live coverage of all matches from the men’s Sahara Hockey Champions Trophy in Chennai on a pay-per-view basis to viewers throughout the world (except North America and the Caribbean) with a broadband, high-speed Internet connection.

For North America and the Caribbean, a partnership has been agreed with Willow TV. Willow TV will provide live coverage of the tournament in Chennai.

The online coverage on both services will complement the extensive television agreements already in place with broadcasters around the world for the Champions Trophy. The tournament will have its highest ever potential audience reach in 2005, with the event broadcast to all competing nations.

In addition to live content from world-level events, WorldHockey.tv will be the home of a free access service, available globally.

Content will include BDO WorldHockey Monthly, FIH’s four-weekly television magazine programme, WorldHockey archived events and other material to provide a complete online resource for hockey supporters around the world.

WorldHockey.tv can be accessed via the homepage of the FIH website, www.worldhockey.org. It is managed by FieldHockey TV using the television operating system developed by Narrowstep.

The Sahara Hockey Champions Trophy starts in Chennai, India, today, with the first round of matches at SDAT Radhakrishnan Hockey Stadium.