GLOBAL SPORTS PICKLEBALL has announced a strategic broadcast partnership with Zee5, one of India’s largest OTT platforms. As part of this association, the Global Sports Pickleball League and Grand Slam 2025, scheduled from 16 to 23 December at the Andheri Sports Complex in Mumbai, will be streamed live to Zee5’s nationwide audience and broadcast on Zee Café and &flix.
The collaboration marks a major step in widening pickleball’s reach and visibility in India, bringing events such as the Grand Slam, Pro League, and Challenger League closer to fans across the country.
Grand Slam:
* A pickleball tournament covering age groups from Under-12 to 50+
* To be streamed exclusively on Zee5 from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm
* Features a substantial prize pool of Rs 5 crore across categories and divisions
Pro League & Challenger League:
* Daily live broadcasts from 3:00 pm to 10:00 pm on Zee5, and on television via Zee Café and &flix
* Pro League – 10 teams, each with five picklers, including international players and women athletes
* Challenger League – 10 teams predominantly comprising Indian players, spotlighting rising talent
* Both leagues will be presented from centre courts to deliver a premium, immersive viewing experience.
Global Sports Pickleball chief of pickleball growth Hemal Jain said, “This partnership with ‘Z’ is a significant moment for pickleball in India. With Zee 5 streaming our events live and Zee Café and &flix broadcasting the leagues on television, we are making pickleball accessible to millions of households. This broad visibility is a major step forward for the sport, and we believe it will make pickleball one of India’s most-watched new sports.”
Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd head – advertisement revenue, broadcast & digital Laxmi Shetty added, “At ‘Z’, we’re always looking to back high-potential sports that resonate with today’s audiences. Pickleball is witnessing phenomenal growth, and our partnership with Global Sports Pickleball (GSPB) allows us to bring this dynamic, high-energy sport into Indian living rooms like never before. We believe this collaboration will not only elevate the sport’s visibility but also inspire a new generation of sports enthusiasts across the country. With multi-platform access via Zee 5, Zee Café and &flix, viewers will enjoy a front-row experience to India’s most exciting pickleball season yet.”
