Disney Star have signed a licensing agreement with Zee for the ICC media rights.
On Tuesday, Disney Star signed an agreement licensing with Zee. Henceforth Star allowed Zee to broadcast the 2024-2027 cycle’s all ICC men’s and U-19 events.
Star holds digital rights for all ICC events. The present ICC rights holders had won the bid with approximately 3 billion USD. Therefore, last week, they bagged the rights to broadcasting in the Indian market.
This deal will enable Zee in broadcasting all the ICC men’s events. These also include:
i. 2024 and 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup,
ii. 2025 Champions Trophy and
iii. 2027 ODI World Cup.
Under this agreement, both Zee and Star will also be sharing the financial burden.
Disney Star and Zee heads shared their opinions
In a statement, Zee MD and CEO Punit Goenka said,
“This is a first-of-its-kind partnership in the Indian media & entertainment landscape, and this association with Disney Star reflects our sharp, strategic vision for the sports business India. As a one-stop television destination for ICC men’s cricket events until 2027, ZEE will leverage the strength of its network to offer a compelling experience for its viewers and a great return on investment for its advertisers.”
Moreover, K Madhavan, the president of Disney Star added,
“By securing the IPL television broadcast rights for 2023-27 and now opting to retain only the digital rights for ICC tournaments for 2024-27, we (Star) have in place a balanced and robust cricket offering for our audiences across linear and digital.
“Over the years, Disney Star has strengthened the appeal of international cricket in India, enabling it to reach diverse age groups and cultural demographics across all parts of the country. As India’s leading media house, we will continue to do so with our strong portfolio of cricket properties across television and digital.”
Disney Star went through a strong challenge from Viacom 18, Sony Sports, and Zee. However, Star stood the winner in the bidding table.
For more updates, follow us on Twitter.
