Zee Strikes 10-Year Rights Deal With UAE T20

The UAE T20 League, a cricket league expected to launch next year, has announced a broadcasting rights deal and a number of franchise owners in a matter of weeks.

Zee Entertainment signed a 10-year broadcasting deal with the league, reportedly worth between $100 million and $150 million. The Economic Times of India reported that Zee will include coverage on at least three-to-four TV channels.

The deal comes two months after Sony’s Indian entertainment group announced it planned to purchase a 53% stake in Zee Entertainment for $1.6 billion. 

• The deal hasn’t closed, but reports have suggested the combined entity will bid on broadcasting rights for the Indian Premier League cricket tournament.
• Zee signed a five-year non-compete clause with Sony in 2017 when it sold its sports business, TEN Sports.

The UAE T20 League will start out with six teams — each reportedly sold for between $40 million and $60 million. 

In the last week, Indian conglomerate Reliance Industries Limited — which owns the Indian Premier League’s Mumbai Indians — acquired a franchise, as did Lancer Capital, which is owned by Avram Glazer, Manchester United co-chairman and co-owner of the NFL’s Tampa Bay Buccaneers — who recently lost a bid for an IPL expansion team.