New Delhi [India], June 1 (ANI): Zee Entertainment Enterprises on Monday introduced that it has acquired Indian broadcast and streaming rights for 39 FIFA occasions from 2026 to 2034, together with the FIFA World Cup 2026, FIFA World Cup 2030, and FIFA Women’s World Cup 2027.
The settlement, marking the primary partnership between Zee and FIFA, additionally covers a spread of age-group and futsal tournaments for each women and men, together with documentary collection related to every property, based on Variety.
Events below the deal embody the FIFA Men’s and Women’s U-17 World Cups (2026-2034), FIFA U-20 Men’s and Women’s World Cups, FIFA Futsal Men’s and Women’s World Cups, and the FIFA Intercontinental Cup via 2030.
Broadcasts will start on June 11 with the FIFA World Cup 2026 opener throughout 4 new linear sports activities channels — Unite8 Sports 1 and Unite8 Sports 1 HD in Hindi, and Unite8 Sports 2 and Unite8 Sports 2 HD in English — in addition to on Zee’s streaming platform, ZEE5.
‘We are excited to deliver one of many world’s largest sporting spectacles to Indian audiences,’ Punit Goenka, CEO of Zee Entertainment Enterprises, mentioned. ‘Football cuts throughout areas and demographics, and the investments in garnering the media rights and launching devoted sports activities channels replicate our clear perception in its long-term potential.’
‘The Indian market is of strategic significance for FIFA because it shows immense potential pushed by a younger and passionate viewers,’ Romy Gai, FIFA’s chief enterprise officer, added.
The deal comes after extended negotiations over broadcast rights in India. According to earlier experiences cited by Variety, FIFA initially sought $100 million for the 2026 and 2030 tournaments earlier than decreasing its asking worth to round $60 million. Indian platform JioStar had supplied $20 million, whereas Sony ultimately withdrew from the bidding. Financial particulars of the Zee-FIFA settlement weren’t disclosed.
‘Football as a sport has large under-leveraged potential in a rustic like India and we see a large alternative in unlocking its mass enchantment for billions of viewers throughout the Nation,’ Mukund Galgali, Zee’s deputy CEO and CFO, mentioned.
Zee’s Unite8 Sports portfolio already broadcasts cricket, kabaddi, badminton, wrestling, and fight sports activities.
The FIFA partnership considerably expands the corporate’s presence in a market traditionally dominated by cricket, with the 2026 World Cup anticipated to be its first main take a look at in soccer broadcasting. (ANI)