CHARLTON have announced an exciting TV television package which will see the club branch out to a worldwide audience of around 40 million.

The global expansion continues to go from strength to strength and follows hot on the heels of the lucrative tie-up with A-League outfit the New Zealand Knights earlier this year.

The Addicks have entered an agreement with OnSide TV and will become only the fifth Premiership club to market the rights to their matches to international broadcasters.

They are in good company, too, with the established top four, Manchester United, Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool, now joined in the global football market by Charlton Athletic TV (CATV).

As part of the package, a three-hour programme, including match action, interviews and features, will be produced in tandem with the Addicks’ 38 Premiership matches in the upcoming campaign.

Shown via a time delay, about 12 hours after the final whistle, deals have already been confirmed to supply footage to west Africa and the Middle East and an estimated audience of around 40 million as the club further expand as a global brand.

Aside from the New Zealand partnership, Charlton have a strong presence in Finland, Spain, Gibraltar and the United States, and are expected to add China to their impressive portfolio in the near future.

Addicks chief executive Peter Varney explained: "This deal with OnSide represents a very important next step in our international development strategy.

"We will join some major players on the international club channel circuit which will further enhance awareness and promote interest in our club overseas."

Former Charlton players Garry Nelson and Paul Walsh have signed up to contribute to the coverage and plans are in place to eventually transmit to regions such as Ukraine, Scandinavia, Australasia and the Far East.

The nature of the overseas broadcast agreement means there are no plans to show the programme in the UK.