Emirates Cricket Board: ZEE signs exclusive media rights deal for Emirates Cricket Board’s UAE T20 League

Emirates Cricket Board (ECB) on Tuesday introduced signing of a long-term international media rights take care of Zee Leisure Enterprises (ZEE) for its upcoming property, UAE T20 League.

As a part of the deal, the league will likely be dwell telecast throughout ZEE’s 10 linear channels in English, Hindi, and Tamil language, in addition to concurrently streamed on ZEE5.

On November 30, final 12 months, ET first reported that ZEE was making a comeback into sports activities broadcasting by signing a 10-year media rights take care of the ECB for his or her upcoming UAE T20 League. The deal, pegged at round $100-120 million, was signed simply after ZEE accomplished its non-compete for sports activities with Sony Photos Networks India (SPN).

UAE’s T20 League will see six groups competing in a 34-match competitors. The groups are purchased by , Adani Sportsline, Kolkata Knight Riders, Lancer Capital, GMR Group and .

“Nothing may be extra satisfying than to have a reputable broadcast associate like ZEE related to the League,” mentioned Khalid Al Zarooni, chairman, UAE’s T20 League. “I’m grateful to each Punit Goenka and Rahul Johri for having religion on this League and to develop right into a commercially profitable enterprise. It’s additional a matter of pleasure that ZEE has determined to re-enter sports activities broadcast with UAE’s T20 League being the primary media rights acquisition. We’re very assured that ZEE has the energy of viewership to take our League to unmatched ranges.”

Rahul Johri, president – Enterprise, South Asia at ZEE, mentioned, “We’re delighted to be the official international media rights holder of UAE’s T20 League. We imagine that the League, which is already attracting the largest cricket stars and workforce franchisees globally, will present incredible cricket and leisure to viewers the world over.”

In contrast to the Indian

League (IPL), the Large Bash League, Caribbean Premier League or different comparable format leagues, which cap worldwide gamers within the taking part in squad at 4 or 5 gamers, the UAE T20 League is prone to permit the utmost variety of worldwide gamers – as much as eight – within the taking part in 11.

“We recognise and respect the huge attain of ZEE’s channels and their digital media platform which can profit the League by way of viewership,” mentioned Mubashshir Usmani, Common Secretary, ECB. “The event can even present a precious platform for Emirates Cricket to develop the native expertise and to supply gamers the chance to coach and play alongside the world’s finest.”

In 2017, ZEE had bought its sports activities enterprise, TEN Sports activities, to SPN for roughly Rs 2,400 crore and signed a five-year non-compete clause. Earlier this 12 months, the 2 firms have signed definitive agreements to merge operations and are ready for regulatory approvals.