Star India Terminates Sub-Licensing Deal with ZEE for ICC Men’s Tournaments, Pursues Damages

Star India has ended its sub-licensing agreement with Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd (ZEE) for broadcasting ICC Men’s tournaments from 2024 to 2027, citing a breach of contract. ZEE, however, claims that Star India failed to meet its obligations, rendering the agreement void. This dispute has escalated into arbitration proceedings, with Star India seeking damages.


ZEE disclosed that Star India terminated the agreement on June 20, alleging a breach of contract. The original agreement, signed on August 26, 2022, had granted ZEE the rights to broadcast major ICC events, including the ICC Men’s T20 World Cups and the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup, during the 2024-27 cycle.

The termination comes after Star India initiated arbitration proceedings in March, seeking either the enforcement of the agreement or compensation for unspecified damages. According to ZEE, Star India is now actively pursuing damages in the ongoing arbitration process.

ZEE also revealed that Star India had previously sent letters accusing ZEE of breaching the agreement by failing to pay the first installment of the rights fee, totaling $203.56 million (₹1,693.42 crore), along with other financial commitments, including a ₹17 crore payment for bank guarantee commission and deposit interest.

"Based on legal advice, the management believes that Star has not acted in accordance with the Alliance Agreement and has failed to obtain necessary approvals and execute required documentation," ZEE stated in its disclosure.

ZEE further argued that Star India's actions constitute a repudiation of the contract. The company has accrued ₹72.14 crore in bank guarantee commissions and interest expenses and has requested a refund of ₹68.54 crore from Star India.

In August 2022, Star India secured the media rights for ICC tournaments from 2024 to 2027 for $3.03 billion and later sub-licensed the linear TV rights to ZEE. This deal marked ZEE's return to sports broadcasting after selling its Ten Sports network to Sony Pictures Networks India. However, the execution of the sub-licensing agreement depended on fulfilling several conditions, including financial commitments, bank guarantees, and obtaining final approval from the ICC, according to ZEE's disclosure.

Sources familiar with the matter indicated that ZEE’s ability to meet these commitments was contingent on its now-terminated merger with Sony, which would have provided over $1.5 billion in funding. Without this financial backing, ZEE struggled to fulfill its obligations under the agreement.

ZEE's management, relying on legal advice, maintains that Star India breached the agreement by failing to secure necessary approvals and complete required documentation. The ZEE board continues to monitor the situation, asserting that the company has strong grounds for its defense in the arbitration process. They do not anticipate any significant adverse impact from the dispute and have not adjusted their financial statements.

The now-terminated deal would have granted ZEE exclusive television rights to major ICC men’s events, including two ICC Men’s T20 World Cups (2024, 2026), the ICC Men’s Champions Trophy (2025), the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup (2027), and key ICC U-19 events.