Mumbai: Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd (Zeel) has signed a 10-year media rights deal with Emirates Cricket Board (ECB) for their upcoming UAE T20 League. The broadcaster makes its return into sports broadcasting after its non-compete agreement with Sony Pictures Networks (SPN) India expired.

The deal is estimated to be worth $100-120 million and the broadcaster will air the tournament on TV and OTT platforms, according to a report by ET.

Zeel had sold its sports broadcasting business under the brand Ten Sports to Sony in 2017 and signed a five-year non-compete. Zeel and SPN are in the process of finalising a merger that may result in the creation of the largest M&E entity in the country with an estimated $ two billion in revenues.

At the APOS India summit, Zeel managing director and chief executive officer Punit Goenka had said, “A lot has changed since we exited the sports business. Now, it is coming full circle is the way I'd like to call it. I believe the opportunity is great because the digital landscape has opened up a new opportunity for monetisation which did not exist five years ago. Sports will become an area of focus for the merged entity.”