Zee Bags FIFA India Rights, Ola Electric QIP, Anveshan Funding

Zee Secures FIFA India Rights Through 2034 Amid Market Challenges

Zee has secured the exclusive India media rights for major FIFA events through 2034, marking a significant push into the competitive sports broadcasting landscape. This long-term deal includes the FIFA World Cup 2026, World Cup 2030, the Women’s World Cup 2027, and 39 other FIFA tournaments, positioning Zee to become a key player in football content in the region.

The entertainment conglomerate plans to broadcast these matches on its upcoming dedicated sports channels under the Unite8 Sports brand. Additionally, live streaming will be available on its digital platform, ZEE5, signaling an intent to build a comprehensive sports ecosystem around football.

This acquisition comes after months of negotiation, with broadcasters cautious about the high price sought by FIFA, late-night match timings, and a challenging monetization outlook in India. The country’s sports broadcasting market is highly concentrated, with JioStar dominating premium sports and SonyLIV maintaining a selective approach, leaving limited avenues for expensive global rights.

Monetizing football in India presents unique challenges compared to cricket, primarily due to thinner ad inventory, more regionally concentrated audiences, and brands already allocating substantial budgets to events like the IPL. Furthermore, the ban on real-money gaming platforms has curtailed advertising revenues, tightening unit economics for streaming services. Zee’s ability to effectively monetize this high-stakes football gamble will be closely watched.

Ola Electric QIP Opens; Anveshan Raises ₹150 Cr in Series B

Electric vehicle manufacturer Ola Electric has launched its Qualified Institutional Placement (QIP), setting a floor price of ₹37.74 for the offering. The company’s board had previously approved a proposal to raise ₹1,500 Cr through various financing avenues, with the QIP being a key component of this strategy.

Proceeds from the QIP are earmarked for critical business objectives, including the repayment or prepayment of existing borrowings, scaling up manufacturing capabilities, strengthening its supply chain, and expanding its retail store network across India. This capital infusion arrives at a pivotal moment for Ola Electric, which, despite being one of India’s largest electric two-wheeler manufacturers, continues to face operational losses and intense market competition.

Separately, D2C food brand Anveshan has successfully closed its Series B funding round, raising approximately $15.8 Mn (₹150 Cr). The investment was spearheaded by Vertex Ventures, with the capital designated to enhance the company’s manufacturing infrastructure, optimize procurement systems, and broaden its omnichannel presence.

Founded in 2020, Anveshan specializes in clean, premium food products, including ghee, cold-pressed oils, raw honey, and multi-grain atta. The latest funding builds on previous rounds, which saw the startup secure $10.6 Mn from investors such as DSG Consumer Partners and Titan Capital. Anveshan currently reports an Annual Recurring Revenue (ARR) of ₹280-₹300 Cr and aims to exceed ₹1,000 Cr within the next 24-30 months.

E2W Sales Rebound; CARS24, Scripbox Announce Strategic Moves

India’s electric two-wheeler (E2W) registrations experienced a significant rebound in May, climbing 8.4% month-on-month to 1.70 Lakh units, up from 1.57 Lakh units in April. This surge also represents an almost 69% year-on-year increase compared to 1.01 Lakh units registered in May 2025.

TVS Motor maintained its leadership position in the E2W market, recording 42,376 units sold last month. Bajaj Auto solidified its second-place standing with a 13.2% month-on-month growth, reaching 39,104 registrations in May. Ola Electric reported the most substantial jump in registrations, increasing 22% month-on-month to 15,139 units, thereby expanding its market share to approximately 9%. Meanwhile, rival Ather’s registrations remained largely stable, seeing a marginal 0.9% month-on-month decline to 28,190 units.

In other corporate developments, CARS24, the IPO-bound used car marketplace, has committed ₹190 Cr, equivalent to $20 Mn, to its newly launched AI Labs initiative. This strategic investment aims to foster the development of AI-first products and accelerate the adoption of artificial intelligence within its operations. The company has forged partnerships with leading AI entities, including OpenAI, ElevenLabs, and AWS, to support this program, ahead of its anticipated Initial Public Offering by the end of the year.

Separately, wealthtech startup Scripbox has acquired the mutual fund distribution business of Bluechip Capital, a wealth management firm, as part of its strategy to expand its market presence in Delhi NCR. The financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. This acquisition is intended to integrate Bluechip Capital’s existing client base and employee talent with Scripbox’s proprietary in-house research capabilities and advanced technology offerings. Scripbox, founded in 2012, reported a revenue of ₹107.2 Cr and a profit of ₹12.8 Cr for FY25.