Zee bags Serie A rights for India and six South Asian markets

MUMBAI: When football kicks, broadcasters don’t just chase the ball, they chase the rights. Zee Entertainment has scored one of its biggest goals yet, bringing Italy’s premier football competitions to screens across India and six neighbouring markets for the next five years.

Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd. has secured the exclusive broadcast and digital rights for Serie A, Coppa Italia and Supercoppa Italiana across India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bhutan, Afghanistan and the Maldives under a five-year agreement beginning 22 August 2026.

The matches, highlights and related programming will be available on Zee5 and the company’s Unite8 Sports channels, strengthening Zee’s ambitions to become a leading destination for global football content.

The acquisition significantly expands Zee’s football portfolio, adding one of Europe’s most prestigious domestic leagues to its existing line-up that already includes Bundesliga and FIFA competitions. The move comes as broadcasters and streaming platforms intensify competition for premium sports rights to attract subscribers, grow viewership and boost advertising revenues.

Home to iconic clubs such as AC Milan, Inter Milan and Juventus, Serie A remains one of Europe’s most-followed football leagues. The competition also features globally recognised stars including Lautaro Martínez, Paulo Dybala and Mateo Retegui, giving Indian fans year-round access to top-tier Italian football.

Commenting on the acquisition, Bavesh Janavlekar, Chief Business Officer, Unite8 Sports, Zee Entertainment, said the addition of Serie A and its associated cup competitions reflects football’s rapidly growing popularity in India.

He added that combining the Italian league with Zee’s existing football properties would help deepen fan engagement while creating fresh opportunities for advertisers and brand partners.

The latest rights deal reinforces Zee’s broader strategy of building a comprehensive football ecosystem spanning international tournaments, European league football and domestic cup competitions. By leveraging its television network alongside Zee5’s digital reach, the company aims to broaden access to Italian football across the subcontinent.

With Serie A, Bundesliga and FIFA tournaments now under one roof, Zee is positioning itself to offer football fans a near year-round calendar of premium action, while strengthening its foothold in the increasingly competitive sports broadcasting market.