The Indian Super League (ISL), the country’s top-tier men's soccer competition, has issued a domestic media rights tender for the first time ahead of its 10th season.
The sales process will be managed by sports marketing and entertainment agency Octagon.
According to the Times of India outlet, the invitation to tender will be for an initial period of two years and include television and digital rights.
Since the league’s inception in 2014, it has been broadcast domestically by Star Sports, the pay-television network owned by media and entertainment heavyweight Disney. The top-flight competition is jointly owned - through Football Sports Development (FDSL) - by Reliance Industries (65%) and Disney Star (35%).
Star's most recent four-year broadcast deal ended last season, which prompted FDSL to launch a tender process.
In addition, it has been reported that the home games of the India national team have been included in the tender. India’s fixtures include three qualifiers for the 2026 FIFA World Cup to be played during the November, March, and June international windows.
FSDL is a marketing partner of the All India Football Federation governing body.
The firm expects a new broadcast rights agreement to be signed within 20 days. The new ISL season is scheduled to begin in September.
The league will expand to 12 teams for the upcoming campaign, with Punjab FC set to make their debut after being promoted from the second-tier I-League.
The ISL is the longest-running sports league in the country after cricket’s Indian Premier League and is claimed to be the most-watched soccer league in India.
Streaming platform JioTV - run by Jio and Reliance Industries - also covered the last season of ISL action.
Image: ISL
