Zee Entertainment in Talks with FIFA on World Cup Broadcast Rights in India
- On Tuesday, Zee Entertainment Enterprises unveiled Unite8 Sports, a four-channel linear sports portfolio comprising Unite8 Sports 1 and 1 HD in Hindi, and Unite8 Sports 2 and 2 HD in English.
- Sports consumption across India is accelerating rapidly, driven by rising demand for live, appointment-based content and multiple sporting formats, prompting Zee to shift from general entertainment channels toward a dedicated standalone linear sports business.
- Bavesh Janavlekar, who previously oversaw Zee's Marathi-language movies cluster, now serves as chief business officer of Unite8 Sports, overseeing channels that will carry soccer, cricket, kabaddi, badminton, wrestling and combat sports including boxing.
- Zee's FIFA negotiations unfold as World Cup broadcast rights for India remain unresolved weeks before the June 11 tournament start, with a Reliance-Disney joint venture simultaneously facing deadlock.
- FIFA initially sought $100 million for the 2026 and 2030 World Cups in India, later lowering expectations to about $60 million, though Reliance-Disney's $20 million offer falls far short of that revised floor.
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18 Articles
Zee Entertainment in talks with FIFA over World Cup broadcast rights in India
India's Zee Entertainment Enterprises is in talks with FIFA to secure the streaming and broadcast rights for the 2026 FIFA World Cup in India, the company said on Tuesday, a move that could shake up the country's sports broadcasting landscape.
World Cup broadcast hopes boosted in India as Zee Entertainment in talks
Broadcasting rights for FIFA World Cup 2026 in India have been at a deadlock only weeks ahead of June 11 kickoff.By ReutersPublished On 26 May 202626 May 2026India’s Zee Entertainment is in talks with FIFA to stream and broadcast the 2026 World Cup in the country, the company said in a statement.The announcement on Tuesday, which provided no financial details, comes as talks between a Reliance-Disney joint venture and the football body are at …
Zee Entertainment in talks to land FIFA World Cup 2026 broadcast deal in India; to launch Unite8 Sports sports channel
Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd. has officially confirmed it is in talks with FIFA to broadcast the 2026 World Cup in India. The FIFA World Cup 2026 starts on June 12 in the United States, Mexico and Canada.
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