ZEE Entertainment Secures Broadcasting Rights For DP World ILT20 Season 3

Season 3 of the DP World International League T20 is set to begin on Saturday, 11 January 2025. The tournament, consisting of 34 matches, will span a month, culminating in the final on Sunday, 9 February 2025. Cricket enthusiasts in India and across the globe can catch all the live action exclusively on ZEE’s linear TV channels, the OTT platform ZEE5 and its syndicate partners’ TV and digital networks.

The 34-match tournament is scheduled to take place at three UAE cricket venues - Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Sharjah, from 11 January 2025 to 9 February 2025. 

Ashish Sehgal, Chief Growth Officer – Ad Sales, ZEE Entertainment Enterprises Limited (ZEEL), “Zee is delighted to present DP World ILT20 3rd season and promises an electrifying experience to cricket fans in India and around the world. 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. 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.”

The franchise-style tournament, featuring six teams and 34 matches will be held across the UAE. The league's franchises include Abu Dhabi Knight Riders (Kolkata Knight Riders), Desert Vipers (Lancer Capital), Dubai Capitals (GMR), Gulf Giants (Adani Sportsline), MI Emirates (Reliance Industries), and Sharjah Warriors (Capri Global). Season 2 saw the participation of cricketers such as David Warner, Nicholas Pooran, Matheesha Pathirana, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Sam Billings, David Willey, Sunil Narine, Tim David, Andre Russell, Alex Hales, Rovman Powell, Shimron Hetmyer, James Vince, Ambati Rayudu, Corey Anderson, Dwayne Bravo, Kieron Pollard, Trent Boult, Chris Woakes and Martin Guptill.

David White, CEO, DP World ILT20 commented, "We are delighted to confirm the window for DP World International League T20 Season 3. The window has been finalised after discussions with our stakeholders. We have begun our preparations for Season 3 with the aim of making the league even bigger and better. 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.”

The distribution and marketing approach for the third season are geared towards expanding the league's audience and ensuring extensive viewership. In the previous season, the league garnered a reach of over 221 million viewers across India. The matches will be broadcasted with commentary in both Hindi and English. ZEE5 will provide free-to-view live streaming of all 34 cricket matches, to boost cricket viewership in the Indian subcontinent and beyond.