
Baseball United and ‘Z’ Network Partner to Bring Baseball to India
Historic partnership will bring all Baseball United Season One games to India live in English and Hindi across multiple Zee channels and digital platforms
Published Oct 15, 2025
DUBAI, UAE (October 15, 2025) - Baseball United, the first professional baseball league focused on the Middle East and South Asia, announced today a historic partnership with Zee Entertainment Enterprises Limited (‘Z’), India’s leading media and entertainment company, that will deliver Baseball United’s professional baseball games live to millions of viewers across India. The collaboration will include coverage of all 21 of Baseball United’s Season One games this November and December, including several primetime matches featuring the Mumbai Cobras, India’s first professional baseball franchise.
Baseball United’s games will air on three of ‘Z’s leading linear channels - Zee Café SD, &Flix SD, and &Pictures HD - as well as stream digitally on the Zee 5 app. Broadcasts will be available in both English and Hindi, expanding accessibility for fans across India’s diverse regions. Baseball United’s inaugural season will include the league’s four founding franchises - the Arabia Wolves, Mid East Falcons, Karachi Monarchs, and India’s team, the Mumbai Cobras.
The partnership includes a full allotment of supplementary content on Zee 5, including player features, ballpark highlights, Baseball 101 clips, behind-the-scenes segments, and an original documentary on the building of the league. ‘Z’ will support the partnership with four weeks of promotion across its linear and OTT network, with teasers, ad spots, lower-thirds, and additional branded content. Both Baseball United and ‘Z’ will also collaborate on a full slate of social media posts and campaigns.
The league’s season begins with a historic matchup, as Mumbai takes on Karachi for a three-game “Subcontinent Series” November 14th, 15th, and 16th. The series will mark the first games in history for both franchises, as well as the first time Indian and Pakistani professional baseball teams have ever competed. The teams’ rosters are made up of players from 25 countries, including six Indian players on the Mumbai franchise.
“We are very grateful to announce this partnership with Zee Entertainment Enterprises Limited (‘Z’),” said Kash Shaikh, Chairman, CEO, and Co-Founder, Baseball United. “This is a major milestone in our mission to bring professional baseball to India and the broader region, and it's a significant moment for the more than 50 million baseball fans in India. ‘Z’ is one of India’s most iconic broadcasters, and their combination of reach, relevance, and reputation make them an ideal partner to connect with fans across this great country. For the first time in history, those fans will have a team of their own to support, with homegrown players to inspire them. We can’t wait for the Cobras to take the field on November 14th.”
India represents one of Baseball United’s most important priorities, with a rapidly growing sports audience and deep-rooted passion for bat-and-ball games. It’s also one of the world’s largest, youngest, and fastest-growing media markets. The partnership with ‘Z’ — which reaches over 800 million viewers in India across its linear and digital platforms — marks a significant step toward introducing Baseball United to millions of Indian households and accelerating fan growth across the subcontinent.
‘Z’ is one of India’s pioneering private broadcasters. Its flagship channel Zee TV launched in October 1992 as India’s first privately-held satellite channel. Over the decades, ‘Z’ has grown into a full-spectrum media and entertainment conglomerate, spanning general entertainment, movies, regional and language-specific channels, and a major digital platform.
"At ‘Z’, we are committed to bringing world-class international sports to Indian audiences and establishing India as a global platform for sports consumption," said Laxmi Shetty, Head-Advertisement Revenue, Broadcast and Digital, Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd. “This partnership with Baseball United reflects our dedication to diversifying sports entertainment and offering Indian fans access to premier sporting events from around the world. India has a deeply entrenched bat-and-ball sporting culture, and we are excited to introduce millions of sports fans to the speed, strategy, and spectacle of professional baseball. With Hindi and English feeds, we are building a foundation for the sport of baseball that will entertain fans and create a wider passionate fanbase.”
Baseball United’s first full season begins November 14th at Baseball United Ballpark in Dubai, featuring 21 games in 30 days. All games will be broadcast live and include world-class players, music, entertainment, and fan experiences. The season will culminate with the United Series Championship, set for December 12th, 13th, and 14th.
Supported by 20 Major League Baseball legends, including Mariano Rivera, Barry Larkin, Adrián Beltré, and Albert Pujols, Baseball United aims to grow the game across the world’s most populous region. The league’s franchises represent the first professional baseball teams in their respective cities, and its mission is to inspire a new generation of fans and athletes throughout India, Pakistan, and the Middle East.
For more information, visit baseballunited.com and follow @BaseballUnited on all social media platforms.
About Baseball United
Baseball United is the first professional baseball league focused on the Middle East and the Indian Subcontinent. Baseball United’s inaugural Showcase event in Dubai was broadcast in 127 countries, reaching 200 million households. Our mission is to inspire one billion new fans to fall in love with baseball. Our ownership group includes award-winning entrepreneur, Kash Shaikh, and 20 baseball legends, including Barry Larkin, Mariano Rivera, Adrián Beltré, Albert Pujols, Elvis Andrus, Robinson Chirinos, Felix Hernandez, Ryan Howard, and Ronald Acuña Jr. In addition to our professional league, the Baseball United ecosystem spans youth development, federation partnerships, media and content production, merchandise, and non-profit outreach. With over 30 nationalities represented on our team rosters and a new suite of innovative game changes, Baseball United is working to create a new future for baseball in one of the fastest growing and most culturally diverse regions in the world.
About ZEE Entertainment Enterprises Ltd. (‘Z’)
Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd. is a leading Content and Technology powerhouse, seamlessly blending its rich legacy with pioneering innovation to deliver cutting-edge entertainment experiences. With a presence in over 190 countries and a reach of over 1.3 billion people across the globe, ‘Z’ brings diverse stories to life through linear television, digital platforms, movies and music across languages. As a truly Indian brand with a global footprint, ‘Z’ remains committed towards enriching the lives of people around the world by creating extraordinary moments which celebrate the power of optimism and togetherness.
Media Contacts:
Salome Fernandes, Senior Vice President, Media, Baseball United
salome@baseballunited.com