Viacom18, under the Reliance Industries umbrella, has secured exclusive rights to broadcast and stream the Indian Super League (ISL) football matches for the upcoming two seasons. The 10th ISL season kicks off on 21 September, featuring a face-off between Kerala Blasters FC and Bengaluru FC.
What Happened? According to a report by Mint, this marks a shift as Disney Star, the previous broadcaster for nine seasons, steps back. Their decision followed consistent losses and a dip in viewership.
The ISL’s organizer, Football Sports Development Ltd (FSDL), in which Reliance holds a 65% stake, faced losses over the past few years, prompting Disney Star to push for an auction of the ISL media rights.
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The auction, managed by sports agency Octagon, had a base price of ₹275 crore per season. Despite receiving only two bids, FSDL awarded the rights at this base price. The specifics of the deal remain undisclosed.
“Winning the streaming and broadcast rights to the ISL is a big step forward for us in the direction of building a glittering stable of footballing action,” a Viacom18 spokesperson said in a statement.
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