Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd. (Z) has continued its aggressive expansion in football broadcasting by securing the exclusive media rights to Italy’s premier football competitions, Serie A, Coppa Italia and Supercoppa Italiana, across India and six neighbouring South Asian markets under a five-year agreement.
The deal covers India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bhutan, Afghanistan and the Maldives, with coverage commencing from the 2026-27 season on August 22. Live matches, highlights and ancillary programming will be available across Zee5 and Unite8 Sports, further strengthening the broadcaster’s growing portfolio of premium international football properties.
The acquisition represents the latest milestone in Zee’s long-term strategy to establish itself as a leading destination for global football in the region. Over the past year, the broadcaster has steadily assembled an extensive rights portfolio, beginning with the acquisition of the FIFA World Cup 2026 and subsequent FIFA tournament rights, followed by a landmark five-year agreement for the German Bundesliga. More recently, Zee also announced that 15% of Zee5’s football subscription revenues will be invested into grassroots initiatives aimed at supporting the long-term development of Indian football.
By adding Italian football’s three flagship competitions, Zee now offers fans access to three of the sport’s most valuable international properties, positioning itself to compete more aggressively in an increasingly competitive sports media landscape.
Commenting on the acquisition, Bavesh Janavlekar, chief business officer – Unite8 Sports, Zee Entertainment Enterprises, said, “At ‘Z’, our commitment is to build a robust football ecosystem that brings Indian fans closer to the sport through premium content and a quality viewing experience. The addition of key global properties like ‘Serie A’, ‘Coppa Italia’ and ‘Supercoppa Italiana’ to our portfolio is a firm reflection of the scale and passion of football across the country.
“As one of the most respected leagues in football, ‘Serie A’ brings together iconic clubs and talent that have captivated generations of fans. We are thrilled to present all the action and intensity of the league on Zee 5 and Unite8 channels, offering consumers a truly differentiated destination for global football. Together with FIFA and Bundesliga, it further strengthens our ability to offer consumers compelling football content, while creating new opportunities to deepen the engagement beyond the live match.”
The agreement also reinforces the growing commercial importance of South Asia for European football leagues, with broadcasters increasingly investing in year-round football programming as fan interest extends beyond international tournaments. For Zee, the addition of Serie A not only broadens its content offering but also reinforces its ambition to become the region’s long-term home of global football.
