Dec 17: Zee Entertainment Enterprises Limited (‘Z’), India’s leading media and entertainment company, successfully concluded its historic broadcast of Baseball United’s inaugural season as the Mid East Falcons clinched the first United Series championship with a commanding 8-1 victory over the Mumbai Cobras at Baseball United Ballpark in Dubai.
The championship finale, broadcast live in English and Hindi across Zee 5, Zee Café SD, &Flix SD, and &Pictures HD, showcased the pinnacle of professional baseball as Shotaro Kasahara delivered a masterful performance, allowing only two hits in six scoreless innings with six strikeouts to secure the Falcons’ victory. Munenori Kawasaki, named United Series MVP, went 2-for-5 with one run scored and two RBIs, batting an impressive .417 for the series.
The landmark partnership between ‘Z’ and Baseball United brought all 21 Season One games to Indian audiences throughout November and December, marking the first time professional baseball has been broadcast extensively across India’s diverse regions. The tournament featured intense competition among the league’s four founding franchises—the Arabia Wolves, Mid East Falcons, Karachi Monarchs, and the Mumbai Cobras—with the Falcons staging a remarkable comeback after losing Game 1 to claim two consecutive victories.
“We are incredibly proud to have partnered with Baseball United to bring this groundbreaking season to Indian audiences,” said Laxmi Shetty, Head-Advertisement Revenue, Broadcast and Digital, Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd. “Over 21 thrilling games, we’ve witnessed the birth of a new sporting culture in India. The passion and engagement from fans across the country has exceeded our expectations and validates our vision of diversifying India’s sports entertainment landscape. This historic championship finale showcased the very best of professional baseball—exceptional athleticism, strategic brilliance, and the kind of nail-biting drama that creates lifelong fans. We look forward to continuing this partnership and bringing even more world-class baseball action to Indian fans in the seasons ahead. Congratulations to the champions on their well-deserved victory.”
“This inaugural season has been nothing short of extraordinary, and we couldn’t have asked for a better partner than ‘Z’ to share this journey with fans across India,” said Kash Shaikh, Chairman, CEO, and Co-Founder, Baseball United. “The championship victory caps off a thrilling month of world-class baseball that has captivated audiences and introduced millions of Indians to the speed, strategy, and excitement of our sport. Witnessing Indian players compete on a professional stage has been truly inspiring, and their performance demonstrates the incredible potential of Indian baseball. We are grateful to ‘Z’ for their commitment to this vision and for helping us connect with India’s passionate sports community. This is just the beginning of an exciting journey, and we can’t wait to build on this foundation in Season Two.”
The United Series Championship, held on December 12th, 13th, and 14th, concluded Baseball United’s 21-game season that featured world-class players, entertainment, and fan experiences. Supported by 20 Major League Baseball legends including Mariano Rivera, Barry Larkin, Adrián Beltré, and Albert Pujols, the league’s mission to grow baseball across the world’s most populous region has taken a significant step forward.
‘Z’s comprehensive coverage included live game broadcasts and supplementary content on Zee 5 featuring player profiles, ballpark highlights, Baseball 101 educational clips, behind-the-scenes segments, and an original documentary chronicling the building of the league. The partnership was supported by four weeks of extensive promotion across ‘Z’s linear and OTT network, reaching over 800 million viewers across India.
As Baseball United Season One concludes with the Mid East Falcons as champions, both ‘Z’ and Baseball United remain committed to expanding baseball’s footprint in India, nurturing homegrown talent, and building on the foundation established during this historic inaugural season.