Disney Star and Zee sign agreement where latter will broadcast ICC events on TV

Zee Entertainment Enterprises (ZEE) and Disney Star have entered into a strategic licensing agreement by way of which the latter will license the television broadcasting rights of the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) Men’s and Under 19 (U-19) global events for a period of four years, to the former. The announcement comes days after Disney Star retained ICC's broadcast rights until 2027.

 

Disney Star will continue to be the home for streaming of all men's ICC tournaments through its digital platform - Disney+ Hotstar.

 

The ICC has approved this arrangement.

 

The agreement will see ZEE become the exclusive television rights holder of ICC men’s events starting from the ICC men’s T20 World Cup in 2024. The partnership will also include the men's T20 World Cup in 2026, ICC Men’s Champions Trophy (2025), and the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup (2027) along with ICC U-19 events.

 

Punit Goenka, MD and CEO, ZEE Entertainment Enterprises, “This is a first-of-its-kind partnership in the Indian media and entertainment landscape, and this association with Disney Star reflects our sharp, strategic vision for the sports business in India. As a one-stop television destination for ICC men’s cricket events until 2027, ZEE will leverage the strength of its network to offer a compelling experience for its viewers and a great return on investment for its advertisers. Long-term profitability and value-generation continue to be our areas of focus across the business, and we will always evaluate all the necessary steps that will enable us to make sports a compelling value proposition for the company. We look forward to working with ICC and Disney Star, to enable this strategic offering for our television viewers in India.”

 

K Madhavan, country manager and president, Disney Star, said, "By securing the IPL television broadcast rights for 2023-27 and now opting to retain only the digital rights for ICC tournaments for 2024-27, we have in place a balanced and robust cricket offering for our audiences across linear and digital. Over the years, Disney Star has strengthened the appeal of international cricket in India, enabling it to reach diverse age groups and cultural demographics across all parts of the country. As India’s leading media house, we will continue to do so with our strong portfolio of cricket properties across television and digital.”