Even as Zee Entertainment Enterprises is all set to start a new inning in the sports arena from June 12 early morning — as per Indian time zone — with the telecast of the inaugural football match of the 2026 edition of the FIFA World Cup, being hosted by the US, Mexico and Canada, it has not only started acquiring new live sports properties, but is also targeting raising over $ 200 million to fund strategic initiatives.

In a move towards strengthening its sports portfolio, Zee has secured the exclusive television broadcast rights for India’s upcoming tour of Zimbabwe, further expanding its presence in the cricket broadcasting landscape as it builds a diverse portfolio of premium sporting properties — though any such tour to a lowly ranked cricketing nation aren’t considered very lucrative from the business point of view, but it still is akin to Zee batting on the front foot.

The acquisition, secured through a partnership with Zimbabwe Cricket, adds another international cricket property to Zee’s growing sports lineup. The move comes as the broadcaster continues to invest heavily in sports content alongside major events such as the International League T20 (ILT20) and the upcoming FIFA World Cup 2026.

The India-Zimbabwe Twenty20 International series, scheduled to take place in July 2026, will be telecast live across Zee’s Unite8 Sports network. The series is expected to attract significant viewership, given India’s strong cricket following and the increasing interest in bilateral international contests.

Under the broadcasting arrangement, matches will be available on Unite8 Sports 1 and Unite8 Sports 1 HD with Hindi commentary, while English-language coverage will be carried on Unite8 Sports 2 and Unite8 Sports 2 HD. The multilingual offering aligns with Zee’s strategy of catering to diverse audience segments across the country.

Commenting on the development, Bavesh Janavlekar, Chief Business Officer-Unite8 Sports, Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd., said, “We are delighted to bring India’s tour of Zimbabwe to viewers as we continue to scale Unite8 Sports into a compelling destination for premium global sport.

“This acquisition reflects our broader strategy of building a diversified sports portfolio. We will continue to offer rich and engaging sporting action across our platforms and look forward to a long-term partnership with Zimbabwe Cricket.”

Zee Targets Raising $241mn: Meanwhile, Zee Entertainment, according to a Reuters report on June 10, said it would raise 23 billion rupees ($241.43 million) to fund ‌its strategic and business initiatives.

The company, which did not disclose a medium for the raise, said the board will deliberate further on options for raising funds

The fundraise ⁠comes days after the broadcaster struck a deal with FIFA to broadcast the 2026 World Cup in India, ending uncertainty over the tournament’s availability in one of the last major markets where rights had remained unsold.

The deal covers 39 FIFA events over eight years through 2034 and also includes the next ‌World ⁠Cup in 2030. Financial terms were not disclosed.

The company has expanded its presence in sports broadcasting by launching a dedicated portfolio of sports channels.

The company has also invested in new ⁠businesses, including micro-drama app Bullet and visual-effects studio PhantomFX, as it seeks to expand beyond traditional television broadcasting.

Zee Entertainment reported ⁠a loss for the March quarter on May 19, as margins were pressured by higher expenses ⁠and tighter advertising budgets following the Middle East crisis.