Sports
UPKL Season 2 TV reach surges 120 per cent to 40 Million
State kabaddi league doubles viewership with Zee broadcast boost
NOIDA: The raiders were not the only ones making swift moves this season. Uttar Pradesh Kabaddi League, organised by SJ Uplift Kabaddi, has clocked a 120 per cent surge in television reach for Season 2, underlining the rising appetite for regional sporting leagues across India.
Broadcast exclusively by Zee Entertainment Enterprises, the league was telecast live in Hindi and English on Zee Anmol Cinema 2 and &Pictures HD, expanding its footprint across households nationwide. Hosted at the Noida Indoor Stadium, Season 2 delivered a cumulative reach of 40 million viewers aged 2 and above, compared with 18.2 million in Season 1.
The Average Minute Audience rose sharply to 90.8, up from 49 in the inaugural season, signalling deeper engagement and stronger stickiness for the state-based league format.
“Season 2 marked an important step forward in UPKL’s journey,” said SJ Uplift Kabaddi founder and director Sambhav Jain. “Our focus has been on building a professionally structured league that strengthens regional development and creates sustainable pathways for kabaddi talent. We are grateful to the team at Zee Sports for their support and look forward to a long-standing partnership.”
Organised by SJ Uplift Kabaddi Pvt. Ltd. in association with the Uttar Pradesh Kabaddi Association, the league continues to position itself as a grassroots-to-professional platform. Season 2 featured 66 live matches, up from 55 in Season 1, offering fans more mat time and more local rivalries.
The competition also expanded its roster with four new teams: Kanpur Warriors, Aligarh Tigers, Purvanchal Panthers and Gazab Ghaziabad, taking the tally to 12 franchises. Actor Tusshar Kapoor joined as co-owner of the Gazab Ghaziabad franchise, adding a touch of star power to the sporting spectacle.
The season, which kicked off on 25 December 2025, culminated on 10 January 2026 with Kashi Kings lifting the trophy, capping off a fortnight that proved regional kabaddi is no longer playing a supporting role. It is firmly in the spotlight.
Sports
After Virat Kohli’s exit, One8 Commune Bengaluru shuts down
Outlet near Chinnaswamy closes amid rent row, compliance issues mount
BENGALURU: The One8 Commune outlet near M. Chinnaswamy Stadium has shut down following a court order, bringing a turbulent chapter for the high-profile dining destination to a close.
The immediate trigger was a legal dispute over unpaid dues. The outlet, operated by Trio Hills Hospitality, had reportedly defaulted on rent payments for nearly six months. Including maintenance charges and revenue share commitments, the outstanding amount is said to have crossed Rs 2 crore. A Bengaluru civil court subsequently directed the closure of the premises until all financial obligations are cleared.
The shutdown comes months after Virat Kohli, whose brand name lent the outlet its identity, had already distanced himself from the Bengaluru franchise. According to reports, concerns around repeated compliance-related issues prompted his team to withdraw the association. The removal of the One8 branding is believed to have impacted footfall, further straining the business.
The outlet had also faced regulatory scrutiny over the years. In 2024, authorities booked the establishment for operating beyond the 1:00 am curfew. The Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike had issued notices over missing fire safety clearances, while an FIR was filed for violating tobacco regulations by not providing a designated smoking zone under applicable laws.
In response to the closure, the brand maintained that the issue stemmed from building-level compliance responsibilities linked to the property owner rather than operational lapses on its part. It also denied that financial default was the primary reason, reiterating that customer safety remained a priority.
For now, the shutters remain down. While a reopening is theoretically possible if disputes are resolved, the absence of Kohli’s brand association makes a return under the One8 banner increasingly unlikely.
