Zee Entertainment Acquires Media Rights for Italian Football Leagues

Zee Entertainment announced that it has secured media rights for Italian football leagues- Italy's Serie A, Coppa Italia and Supercoppa Italiana football leagues across India and six other South Asian markets, further expanding its growing football portfolio.

The five-year agreement will take effect from August 22, 2026, and adds to Zee's existing sports offerings, which already include Bundesliga and FIFA matches. While the company did not disclose the financial size of the deal, the broadcast package will include live matches, highlights and related football programming, available on both ZEE5 and the company's Unite8 Sports channels.

Deal Spans Seven South Asian Markets

Beyond India, the media rights agreement also covers Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bhutan, Afghanistan and the Maldives. Serie A features some of Europe's most prominent football clubs, including AC Milan, Inter Milan and Juventus, along with star players such as Lautaro Martínez, Paulo Dybala and Mateo Retegui, giving Zee access to a high-profile football property with strong regional fan interest.

Growing Scale in India

Commenting on the acquisition, Bavesh Janavlekar, Chief Business Officer, Unite8 Sports, Zee Entertainment, said the addition of marquee global properties like Serie A, Coppa Italia and Supercoppa Italiana reflects the scale and passion for football across the country. He added that, together with FIFA and Bundesliga, the new rights further strengthen the company's ability to offer viewers compelling football content, while creating new opportunities to deepen engagement beyond live match broadcasts.

Deal Follows Rs 3,143.52 Crore Fundraising Approval

The announcement comes shortly after Zee shareholders approved a Rs 3,143.52 crore fundraising proposal last week, to be deployed through FY29, with sports receiving the largest share of operating allocation. As part of this plan, the company has earmarked Rs 1,000 crore specifically for sports rights, production capabilities and related infrastructure as it looks to build a larger presence in the sports broadcasting space.

Also Read: Zee Entertainment Secures Approval for Rs 418 Cr Invesco Investmet

Football Emerges as a Key Pillar in Zee's Sports Comeback

Zee has been steadily rebuilding its sports portfolio after exiting the business in 2016, acquiring media rights across properties including ILT20 cricket, the Bengal Super League, UP Kabaddi, pickleball and Pro Govinda. Football has now emerged as a key strategic pillar within the company's broader sports vertical, with Zee reportedly eyeing further acquisitions of football tournaments and leagues in the future as it looks to strengthen its position in India's competitive sports broadcasting market.