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FIFA World Cup 2026 Rights - Financial Gap
Comparison of FIFA's valuation vs market offers
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Zee in talks to land FIFA World Cup 2026 broadcast deal in India
The FIFA World Cup 2026 trophy is displayed during a Trophy Tour event.(The Canadian Pres)Leading Content & Technology powerhouse Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd. (‘Z’) has officially confirmed that it is in talks to land the FIFA World Cup 2026 broadcasting deal for Indian viewers. The development was announced on Tuesday along with the news of four new sports channels set to launched by Zee Entertainment Enterprises.The announcement comes at a time amid the heightened speculation over the premier football event broadcast rights in the Indians sports broadcasting market, especially for the global marquee events. With the tournament being less than three weeks away before kickoff, the news comes in a sigh of relief for a lot of football fans in the country.“With an aim to build a competitive sports content offering, the Company is also in talks with Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) to broadcast and stream the FIFA World Cup 2026 matches in India,” the company said in a press statement, shared on Tuesday.Earlier, former All India Football Federation (AIFF) secretary Shaji Prabhakaran had posted on X (formerly Twitter) about the FIFA World Cup 2026's broadcasting partners in India without naming anyone.“After months of uncertainty, fans can finally relax, the World Cup will be fully accessible in India,” Prabhakaran, an executive committee member at Asian Football Confederation (AFC) wrote on Saturday. “The wait is finally over. Negotiations are complete, and the official announcement for the FIFA World Cup 2026 broadcasting partner in India is expected next week."Over the years, Zee has built a strong presence in sports broadcasting by offering key sporting events across its entertainment channels. To further enhance its presence across the sports broadcasting ecosystem, Zee will also be launching four dedicated sports channels –Unite8 Sports 1, Unite8 Sports 1 HD in Hindi and Unite8 Sports 2, Unite8 Sports 2 HD in English to cater diverse consumer preferences.Zee appoints Bavesh Janavlekar as CBO of Unite8 Sports channelsThe channels will offer the best of action across football, kabaddi, cricket, badminton, wrestling, boxing and combat sports amongst others. The requisite applications for the launch of the channels have been submitted by Zee. The company has also appointed Bavesh Janavlekar as the Chief Business Officer of Unite8 Sports channels.Speaking about the development, Janavlekar said, “In a vast country like India, there...
World Cup broadcast hopes boosted in India as Zee Entertainment in talks
Indian football fans cheer on Argentina at a viewing arena in Kolkata as the South Americans beat France in the FIFA World Cup final in Qatar [Bikas Das/AP Photo]India’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 a deadlock, just weeks before the tournament kicks off on June 11.AdvertisementFIFA, which had initially sought $100m for broadcast rights for the 2026 and 2030 World Cups in India, was last looking for no less than about $60m, the news agency Reuters had reported.The expected amount still far exceeds the $20m offered by Reliance-Disney, led by billionaire Mukesh Ambani’s Reliance.Sony also held talks but decided not to make an offer for FIFA rights for India.FIFA has concluded agreements with broadcasters in more than 180 territories globally, it said previously.Zee Entertainment disclosed its talks with FIFA as part of its launch of Unite8 Sports, a dedicated portfolio of sports channels to strengthen its sports offerings to consumers.AdvertisementIndia accounted for 2.9 percent of the global linear TV reach of the Qatar World Cup in 2022, trailing only China in overall engagement figures, with more than 745 million fans following the action across all media platforms in the country, according to figures released by FIFA.In television viewing numbers, India was among the top 10 countries – ahead of World Cup participants Germany, France and England – with nearly 84 million viewers.
Zee Entertainment in Advanced Talks to Secure FIFA World Cup 2026 ...
Zee Entertainment Enterprises Confirms Talks with FIFA for 2026 World Cup Broadcasting Rights Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd. (Z) has confirmed that it is in talks with Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) to secure the broadcasting rights for the 2026 FIFA World Cup in India. The development was announced on Tuesday, alongside the news of four new sports channels set to be launched by Zee Entertainment Enterprises. The announcement comes at a time when speculation over the premier football event broadcast rights in the Indian sports broadcasting market has been heightened. With the tournament just under three weeks away from kickoff, the news is a welcome relief for many football fans in the country. As part of its efforts to build a competitive sports content offering, Zee Entertainment Enterprises is also in talks with FIFA to broadcast and stream the 2026 FIFA World Cup matches in India. The company has stated that its aim is to provide a comprehensive sports content offering to its viewers. Read also: Massachusetts Ride-Hailing Drivers Form State's First Union Amid Concerns Over Automation Table: Comparison of Indian Sports Broadcasting Market CompanyFIFA World Cup 2026 Broadcasting RightsZee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd.In talks with FIFASony Pictures Networks IndiaNot mentionedStar SportsNot mentionedOther broadcastersNot mentioned Earlier, former All India Football Federation (AIFF) secretary Shaji Prabhakaran had hinted at the FIFA World Cup 2026's broadcasting partners in India without naming anyone. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Prabhakaran stated that after months of uncertainty, fans can finally relax, as the World Cup will be fully accessible in India. To further enhance its presence across the sports broadcasting ecosystem, Zee Entertainment Enterprises will be launching four dedicated sports channels: Unite8 Sports 1, Unite8 Sports 1 HD in Hindi, and Unite8 Sports 2, Unite8 Sports 2 HD in English. These channels will offer a range of sports content, including football, kabaddi, cricket, badminton, wrestling, boxing, and combat sports. Read also: Elon Musk's Control Over SpaceX Expands Amid Controversy Over Voting Shares and Governance Structure The company has also appointed Bavesh Janavlekar as the Chief Business Officer of Unite8 Sports channels. Speaking about the development, Janavlekar stated that there is a rising demand for sports that are global in appeal yet rooted within the heartland of India. He ...
India's Zee Entertainment in talks to stream FIFA World Cup
Zee Entertainment disclosed its talks with FIFA as part of its launch of Unite8 Sports, a dedicated portfolio of sports channels to strengthen its sports offerings to consumers.ReutersLast Updated : 26 May 2026, 17:30 ISTADVERTISEMENTJoin UsPreferComments
