Image Source: ICC
[Saba Sports News] Zee Entertainment Enterprises (ZEEL) is embroiled in a legal conflict with Star India (Disney Star) over the TV broadcast rights for ICC cricket matches in India. This dispute originated in August 2022 when ZEEL agreed to sub-license the broadcast rights for ICC Men’s and Under-19 matches from 2024 to 2027 from Star India, a deal that has since spiraled into controversy.
ZEEL accuses Star India of not fulfilling their contractual obligations, including failing to obtain necessary approvals from the ICC, not completing required documentation, and generally not adhering to the terms of the agreement.
As a consequence, ZEEL is demanding a substantial refund of INR 68.54 crore, claiming that the breach of agreement nullifies the deal. ZEEL has already spent INR 72.14 crore on bank guarantees and interest expenses related to this agreement. Meanwhile, Star India is seeking to recover unpaid rights fees totaling INR 1,693.42 crore, plus an additional INR 17 crore for bank guarantee and deposit interest from ZEEL. Despite these claims, ZEEL maintains that Star India’s failure to comply has invalidated the sub-license agreement, leading ZEEL to cancel the deal and seek the return of the INR 68.54 crore already paid.
This legal battle poses a significant risk to Indian viewers potentially missing key ICC events, including future T20 and Cricket World Cups, if the dispute is not settled. Both entities are preparing for a legal showdown, with the outcome set to determine the fate of television broadcast rights for major cricket tournaments in India.