ZEE Entertainment gets rights to broadcast DP World ILT20 season 3

ZEE Entertainment on Wednesday secured the exclusive broadcast and streaming rights for the third season of the DP World International League T20 (ILT20) in India and across the world. Viewers can watch the tournament live on ZEE’s linear TV channels, OTT platform ZEE5 and on its syndicate partners’ TV and digital networks, the company said in a press release.

Season 3 of the DP World ILT20 will begin from January 11, 2025. The 34-match tournament will run till February 9, 2025. The event will be hosted in UAE at three venues – Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Sharjah.

The Season 3 announcement comes after a successful second season which concluded with the MI Emirates lifting the trophy. The edition was the second most-watched T20 cricket league globally, with a total of 348 million unique viewers from around the world. In the previous season, the league achieved a remarkable reach of over 221 million across India. The event will be broadcast in Hindi and English commentary.

“Zee is delighted to present DP World ILT20 3rd season and promises an electrifying experience to cricket fans in India and around the world,” said Ashish Sehgal, Chief Growth Officer – Ad Sales, ZEE Entertainment Enterprises Limited (ZEEL). “With the world’s finest players, iconic stadiums, and infrastructure and six leading sporting franchises, our goal is to build upon the previous year’s success, further solidifying the league’s stature as one of the most-widely followed cricket events in the world,” he added.

The “deep distribution and disruptive marketing strategy” for the third season aims to enhance the league’s reach and ensure widespread viewership, Zee said.

“In our pursuit to grow the market, we are continuously exploring innovative ways to enhance the fan experience, making it more interactive, immersive, and engaging. We are collaborating with cutting-edge technologies and creating new avenues for cricket enthusiasts to connect with the sport. As we embark on this exciting new season, our goal is to ensure that this truly-global league becomes more accessible to viewers worldwide,” Sehgal added.

David White, CEO of DP World, said that the window had been finalised after discussions with stakeholders and stated that preparations for Season 3 had commenced with the goal of enhancing the league further.

“Season 2 was a massive success in terms of all relevant metrics’ and helped further strengthen the league’s reputation, making it one of the most sought after T20 leagues for players, fans and broadcasters from around the world. Having considered all aspects, the January-February window for Season 3 has turned out to be the most suitable,” White added.