Zee secures Bundesliga rights in India until 2031
Zee Entertainment Enterprises has secured exclusive Bundesliga media rights in India until 2031, combining television and streaming distribution with grassroots development initiatives intended to deepen the German league’s position in the market.
Zee Entertainment Enterprises has acquired exclusive Bundesliga broadcast and digital rights in India for five seasons, expanding its international sports portfolio and giving the German league a long-term distribution partner in a strategic growth market.The agreement with the German Football League will begin with the 2026/27 season and run until the end of the 2030/31 campaign. Financial terms were not disclosed.Matches will be shown on Zee’s ZEE5 streaming platform and its Unite8 Sports television channels across India. The package also includes highlights and additional Bundesliga programming.Bavesh Janavlekar, chief business officer of Unite8 Sports at Zee Entertainment Enterprises, said: “Our partnership aims to create a meaningful and lasting impact by supporting grassroots development, strengthening pathways for young talent and enabling fans to actively participate in the growth journey of football in India.”The rights deal supports Zee’s effort to build a broader position in international football following its partnership with FIFA.Zee and the Bundesliga will also launch a Z x Bundesliga Football Week initiative, featuring grassroots clinics and development programmes for young players across India.Peer Naubert, chief commercial officer of Bundesliga Media, said: “Their outstanding reach, local expertise and multi-platform capabilities will bring the Bundesliga closer to millions of fans across India.“Together with Z, we want to inspire the next generation of Indian footballers, strengthen local football structures and deepen the connection between India and the Bundesliga for generations of football fans.”The multi-platform agreement gives the Bundesliga access to Zee’s television and digital reach while allowing the broadcaster to use live football as a driver of subscriptions, audience engagement and advertising inventory.Zee has previously committed to investing 15% of ZEE5’s football-related subscription revenue in programmes designed to identify and develop young talent in India.The Bundesliga said its Indian fan base has grown by more than 50% across the past four seasons, supported by youth initiatives, club activations and fan engagement programmes.The five-season term provides both parties with time to convert that audience growth into a broader commercial platform spanning media rights, subscriptions, sponsorship activation and football development.