Zee Entertainment in talks to land FIFA World Cup 2026 broadcast deal in India; to launch Unite8 Sports sports channel
Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd., the leading powerhouse of Content and Technology. (‘Z’) has officially confirmed that it is in talks to strike the 2026 FIFA World Cup broadcast deal for Indian audiences. The development was announced on Tuesday along with the news of four new sports channels to be launched by Zee Entertainment Enterprises.
The announcement comes amid increasing speculation regarding broadcast rights for leading football events in India’s sports broadcasting market, especially major global events. With less than three weeks until the start of the tournament, this news has come as a relief to many football fans in the country.
“In order to create a competitive sports content offering, the Company is also in discussions with the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) to broadcast and broadcast the 2026 FIFA World Cup matches in India,” the company said in a press release shared on Tuesday.
Earlier, former All India Football Federation (AIFF) secretary Shaji Prabhakaran had posted on X (formerly Twitter) about the broadcast partners of the 2026 FIFA World Cup in India without naming anyone.
“After months of uncertainty, fans can finally relax, the World Cup will be fully accessible in India,” Asian Football Confederation (AFC) executive board member Prabhakaran wrote on Saturday. “The wait is finally over. Negotiations have been completed and the official announcement of the broadcast partner for the 2026 FIFA World Cup in India is expected to be made next week.”
Over the years, Zee has established a strong presence in sports broadcasting by offering major sports events on its entertainment channels. To further enhance its presence in the sports broadcasting ecosystem, Zee will also launch four dedicated sports channels: Unite8 Sports 1, Unite8 Sports 1 HD in Hindi and Unite8 Sports 2 in English, Unite8 Sports 2 HD will cater to diverse consumer preferences.
Zee appoints Bavesh Janavlekar as CBO of Unite8 Sports channels
The channels will offer the best action in football, kabaddi, cricket, badminton, wrestling, boxing and combat sports. The necessary applications for the opening of the channels were made by Zee. The company has also appointed Bavesh Janavlekar as Chief Operating Officer of Unite8 Sports channels.
Speaking about the development, Janavlekar said: “In a large country like India, the demand for sports that are global in appeal but centered on the hub is increasing. Sports consumption is growing rapidly across the country due to the growing demand for live, appointment-based content and the growing interest of viewers in multiple sports formats.”
“Establishing a strong presence in the four-channel linear ecosystem is aligned with our broader strategy to diversify the content portfolio and build scalable, value-adding businesses that capitalize on emerging growth opportunities,” he added.
