Baseball United Partners with Zee Entertainment to Broadcast First Professional League Across India

Baseball United, the first professional baseball league centered on the Middle East and South Asia, has announced a major broadcast partnership with Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd. (ZEE), one of India’s largest media and entertainment networks. The collaboration will bring live coverage of all 21 games from Baseball United’s inaugural season to millions of viewers across India this November and December.

Under the agreement, matches will air on three of ZEE’s leading television channels — Zee Café SD, &Flix SD, and &Pictures HD — and stream live on the Zee5 digital platform. Broadcasts will be available in both English and Hindi to reach a wider national audience.

The partnership will feature several primetime matchups involving the Mumbai Cobras, India’s first professional baseball franchise. Baseball United’s debut season includes four founding teams: the Arabia Wolves, Mid East Falcons, Karachi Monarchs, and Mumbai Cobras.

In addition to live coverage, the collaboration will include exclusive supplementary content on Zee5, such as player profiles, ballpark highlights, behind-the-scenes footage, and an original documentary chronicling the creation of the league. ZEE will also run a four-week promotional campaign across its network, featuring teasers, advertising spots, branded content, and digital campaigns developed jointly with Baseball United.

The league’s opening matchup will take place on November 14, when the Mumbai Cobras face off against the Karachi Monarchs in a three-game “Subcontinent Series.” The event will mark the first professional baseball games between teams representing India and Pakistan — a symbolic moment for the region’s sports history. Both teams’ rosters feature players from 25 countries, including six Indian players for the Mumbai franchise.

Kash Shaikh, chairman, CEO, and co-founder of Baseball United, described the partnership as a landmark step for the sport in India. “This is a major milestone in our mission to bring professional baseball to India and the broader region,” he said. “ZEE’s unmatched reach and reputation make them the ideal partner to help connect with fans across this great country.”

ZEE, which reaches over 800 million viewers globally, has played a key role in shaping India’s media landscape since the launch of Zee TV in 1992. Laxmi Shetty, head of advertisement revenue for broadcast and digital at ZEE, said the partnership reflects the network’s commitment to expanding India’s exposure to global sports.

“India has a deeply rooted bat-and-ball sporting culture,” Shetty said. “We are thrilled to introduce audiences to the speed, strategy, and excitement of professional baseball.”

Baseball United’s first season will begin in Dubai on November 14 and conclude with the United Series Championship from December 12 to 14. Supported by more than 20 Major League Baseball legends — including Mariano Rivera, Barry Larkin, Adrian Beltre, and Albert Pujols — the league aims to grow baseball’s presence across one of the world’s fastest-growing sports markets.