Zee Entertainment Enterprises has announced the launch of Unite8 Sports, a dedicated sports channel portfolio aimed at expanding its presence in sports broadcasting.
The company has launched four sports channels, Unite8 Sports 1, Unite8 Sports 1 HD in Hindi, Unite8 Sports 2 and Unite8 Sports 2 HD in English. The channels have offered sports content across football, kabaddi, cricket, badminton, wrestling, boxing and combat sports.
The company has stated that the channels are part of its strategy to build a dedicated linear sports bouquet and expand its footprint in the sports broadcasting ecosystem.
The requisite applications for launching the channels have already been submitted by the company.
Bavesh Janavlekar has taken additional charge as Chief Business Officer of Unite8 Sports channels. He has previously managed the Marathi movies cluster, including the linear and studio business, at the company.
The company has also confirmed that it is in talks with FIFA to broadcast and stream the FIFA World Cup 2026 matches in India.
Bavesh Janavlekar, Chief Business Officer – Unite8 Sports, Zee Entertainment Enterprises, said, “In a vast country like India, there is rising demand for sports which are global in appeal yet rooted within the heartland. Sports consumption across the country is accelerating rapidly, driven by an increasing demand for live, appointment-based content and rising audience affinity for multiple sporting formats. Building a robust presence in the linear ecosystem with four channels aligns with our broader strategy of diversifying the content portfolio and building scalable, value-accretive businesses that capitalize on emerging growth opportunities.”
