Pickleball rise in India is moving from community courts to major screens. Global Sports Pickleball has announced a new broadcast arrangement that will give the sport a dedicated digital and television footprint during its flagship event later this year.
Under the Global Sports Pickleball Zee5 partnership, the Global Sports Pickleball League and Grand Slam twenty twenty five will be streamed live on the platform and carried on two English entertainment channels, taking the action into homes across the country. The move reflects growing confidence that pickleball can hold its own as a spectator sport, not just a recreational activity.
How fans will watch the League and Grand Slam
Zee5 will function as the exclusive live streaming destination for the tournament. Viewers will be able to follow matches across categories, courts and formats through dedicated streams instead of juggling feeds or relying on highlights. Separate thumbnails for the Pro League and Challenger League are planned to make navigation easier and give both tiers a distinct on platform presence.
On television, Zee Cafe and Andflix will showcase key fixtures, extending the reach to audiences who still prefer appointment viewing on the big screen. This dual platform approach is designed to capture both younger digital first fans and traditional viewers who are used to following sport through linear channels.
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The Global Sports Pickleball League and Grand Slam twenty twenty five is scheduled from sixteen to twenty three December at the Andheri Sports Complex in Mumbai. The event will be played across ten high performance courts and will feature leading players from India and overseas, underlining the ambition to frame the property as a serious international level competition.
Is this a turning point for pickleball on Indian screens
For emerging sports, consistent and quality coverage is often the missing piece between niche following and mainstream awareness. By tying up with a large entertainment network, Global Sports Pickleball is betting that wider visibility will convert casual curiosity into loyal fandom.
The organisation chief of pickleball growth, Hemal Jain, has called the partnership a significant milestone for the sport in India. With Zee5, Zee Cafe and Andflix all backing the property, pickleball gains an opportunity to be discovered by households who may never have seen a full match before.
From the broadcaster side, the partnership fits a strategy of backing high potential sports that resonate with a younger, experimentation friendly audience. Zee executives have highlighted pickleball fast pace, accessibility and growing community culture as reasons to invest in its broadcast story.
What should sports properties know about multi platform deals
For organisers of new or developing leagues, the Global Sports Pickleball Zee5 partnership offers a few lessons
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• Combine live streaming with television to reach both digital natives and traditional viewers
• Use clear in platform branding, such as separate thumbnails, to help fans follow specific tiers or formats
• Position the event at a recognisable venue to lend credibility and attract live audiences
• Emphasise the sport unique energy and growth story to stand out in a crowded calendar
By aligning live coverage, broadcast visibility and on ground experience, the league is trying to build an ecosystem rather than a one off event.
With a focused Global Sports Pickleball Zee5 partnership supported by Zee Cafe and Andflix, the upcoming League and Grand Slam is set to give pickleball its most comprehensive Indian screen presence so far. The agreement combines digital depth with television reach, positioning the sport for a fresh wave of discovery among viewers across the country.
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