Zee and Star India both dig in around ICC rights dispute

Zee Entertainment Enterprises, the Indian media conglomerate, has escalated its dispute with pay-TV heavyweight Star India around rights to International Cricket Council (ICC) events during the 2024-27 cycle.

Zee has now formally requested from Star – as set out in its third-quarter financial results – a refund of INR68.54 crore ($8.25 million), claiming Star breached the terms of the agreement and requesting a significant refund.

Zee has accused Star of breaching the deal the two parties struck in August 2022, through which Star was meant to have granted exclusive sub-licensing rights for linear TV to Zee for all ICC events during the 2024-27 cycle.

Zee has now disclosed, in its third-quarter filings, that both parties are blaming each other for the dispute. Star has claimed that it has not received the first installment of the rights fee that Zee is contractually obliged to pay, while Zee has hit back by stating that it has paid the sum ($203.56 million).

Indeed, Zee has said that Star is actually at fault in this situation, for not obtaining the approvals and documentation necessary for their deal to go through. Sportcal