Prasar Bharati and AEx SPORT Announce Strategic Partnership to Broadcast Global League Wrestling

This marks a new era for Indian pro-wrestling. The idea is to catapult the Indian sports to the global standards. Building on our existing partnerships with Hockey India, the Handball Association of India, PGTI, and others, this partnership reinforces our commitment to promote a variety of sports and will give India’s next generation of youth and athletes a national platform – Navneet Kumar Sehgal, Chairman, Prasar Bharati

Rakesh Thapliyal

New Delhi: In a landmark development poised to transform India’s sports entertainment landscape, Prasar Bharati, the national public broadcaster, has signed a strategic Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with AEx SPORT, the sports innovation vertical of UK-headquartered AdiGroupe, to broadcast Global League Wrestling (GLW) — the first professional wrestling league of its kind in India and the Asia-Pacific region.

This unique collaboration brings together the expansive national reach of Prasar Bharati — across both television, digital platforms and radio — and the global branding, content, production, IP and marketing expertise of AEx SPORT, to create a world class sports entertainment property designed for Indian, Asia-Pacific and global audiences.

A Cultural Milestone in Indian Sports Entertainment

GLW will officially be unveiled on 17 September 2025, followed by its broadcast debut on 4 October 2025, coinciding with the Government of India’s continued push to promote sports and youth engagement. GLW will be telecast on DD Sports and streamed on Prasar Bharati’s digital platform, Waves, and AIR with the inaugural season spanning 40 weeks of immersive, family-friendly programming.

Navneet Kumar Sehgal, Chairman, Prasar Bharati.

Shri Navneet Kumar Sehgal, Chairman, Prasar Bharati, emphasized, “This marks a new era for Indian pro-wrestling. The idea is to catapult the Indian sports to the global standards. Building on our existing partnerships with Hockey India, the Handball Association of India, PGTI, and others, this partnership reinforces our commitment to promote a variety of sports and will give India’s next generation of youth and athletes a national platform.”

Gaurav Dwivedi IAS, CEO, Prasar Bharti.

Shri Gaurav Dwivedi, CEO, Prasar Bharati, commented, “This partnership underscores Prasar Bharati’s continued commitment to delivering engaging, culturally resonant, and high-quality content to Indian audiences. GLW introduces a new genre of youth-led programming that combines traditional Indian storytelling with international sports entertainment standards.”

Sanjay Viswanathan, Chairman, AdiGroupe and AEx SPORT said, “GLW is part of AEx SPORT’s broader mission to build immersive and inclusive sports-based cultural experiences for sports fans worldwide. We are dedicating GLW to India on the auspicious day of 17 September, to build Indian youth’s pride and self-confidence through competitiveness and excellence in sports entertainment, and provide an opportunity for Indian pro-wrestling talent to shine on a global stage.”

Championing Indian Talent with Global Appeal

The GLW format has been meticulously developed to reflect Indian cultural ethos while embracing global benchmarks in narrative structure, production design, and athlete presentation. The league will introduce a fresh storytelling ecosystem, complete with original characters, cinematic storylines, and a production environment tailored for family viewing.

The Great Khali Joins GLW as Brand Ambassador and Talent Commissioner

Bolstering GLW’s appeal, The Great Khali, former WWE World Heavyweight Champion and one of the most globally recognized Indian athletes, will serve as Brand Ambassador and Talent Commissioner. In this dual role, he will play a pivotal part in talent identification, mentorship, and content development.

The Great Khali said, “Wrestling transformed my life and gave me a global platform. GLW presents a serious, structured, and entertaining opportunity for the next generation of Indian athletes to follow that same path. GLW will help them shine on Indian and global stages — on our own terms.”

About Prasar Bharati

Prasar Bharati is India’s autonomous public service broadcaster and the parent body of Doordarshan Television Network and All India Radio. With nationwide reach across terrestrial, satellite, and digital platforms, Prasar Bharati plays a vital role in delivering high-quality, diverse, and inclusive programming to the Indian population.

About AEx SPORT

AEx SPORT is the sports innovation division of AdiGroupe, a UK-headquartered firm focused on creating next-generation sports properties rooted in cultural impact and technological excellence. AEx SPORT develops IPs across performance-based sports and entertainment with a mission to inspire and empower audiences globally.