Home Sports News Football ISL finds television partner as Sony Sports Network secures new deal The agreement has given Sony Sports Network television rights for the Indian subcontinent, with the ISL also available to audiences in India through SonyLIV. By Aashay Khandelwal October 3, 2026 WhatsApp Linkedin Facebook X Telegram ISL finds television partner as Sony Sports Network secures new deal Sony Sports Network will broadcast the 2026–27 Indian Super League (ISL), bringing the competition back to the network as the league begins a new commercial chapter under a club-led model. The agreement has given Sony Sports Network television rights for the Indian subcontinent, with the ISL also available to audiences in India through SonyLIV . The arrangement reported covers the 2026–27 and 2027–28 seasons, although the financial terms of the agreement have not been disclosed. The development ends months of uncertainty around the ISL’s media distribution following the disruption to its previous commercial structure. The 2025–26 season was played in a curtailed format, with FanCode holding global streaming rights and Sony Sports Network providing television coverage. Sony’s return comes as the ISL transitions towards a new commercial framework in which its clubs have assumed greater control over the league’s commercial rights. The All India Football Federation (AIFF) continues to oversee the competition’s administration and regulatory framework, while the clubs are responsible for driving its commercial and revenue-generating activities. The new broadcast arrangement provides the league with greater media stability ahead of the 2026–27 campaign, which is set to return to a full home-and-away format. The season will begin on October 10, with Bengaluru FC hosting newly promoted Sporting Club Delhi in the opening fixture. FC Goa will then face Chennaiyin FC later that day. The first phase of the season will feature 78 matches and run through January 17, 2027, with the remaining fixtures and playoff schedule to be announced separately. The ISL is also expanding its digital distribution strategy. Alongside Sony LIV’s domestic streaming coverage, YouTube is expected to provide global access to matches, giving the competition a broader digital footprint beyond its core Indian television audience. The precise commercial structure of the YouTube arrangement has not been publicly disclosed. For Sony Sports Network, the agreement adds one of India’s leading football properties to its portfolio at a time when the network continues to expand its presence across the country’s sports media landscape. For the ISL clubs, meanwhile, securing a multi-season broadcast arrangement represents an important early commercial milestone under the new operating model. The league has also secured a new title sponsor, with JSW MG Motor India becoming the competition’s title partner. The tournament will consequently be branded the MG Indian Super League for the new season. The financial value of the Sony agreement, along with detailed information on channel allocation, language feeds and production responsibilities, has not yet been publicly announced. The return of Sony therefore represents more than a change in television distribution. It is a key component of the ISL’s broader commercial reset, with the league now attempting to build a sustainable rights model around a combination of traditional television, domestic streaming and global digital distribution. Tags Indian Super League Indian Super League (ISL) ISL ISL 2026-27 Media Rights MG Indian Super League Sony Sports Network SonyLiv Related Articles ISL set to end title sponsorship drought as MG Motor enters INR 30 crore deal reportedly Kerala Blasters’ Al Fursan takeover signals new phase for ISL’s commercial landscape DAZN broadens DTC strategy with NHL, NBA and basketball rights agreements ATP Media creates new rights frontier with three-year L1VE partnership Memphis Grizzlies turn to DAZN in major shift to streaming-led local broadcasts DAZN strengthens Iberian motorsport strategy with F1 extension through 2030 Load more Latest Articles Cricket Asian Games 2026 Cricket Final, India vs Pakistan: India defends gold, edge Pakistan by 19 runs in thrilling final Sports Business Chelsea give Topps exclusive club-level trading card rights Football India vs Brazil FIFA International Friendly: Everything you need to know about the historic clash Cricket India vs West Indies 2026 3rd ODI: Match preview, head-to-head and streaming details Cricket Asian Games 2026 Cricket Final, India vs Pakistan: Preview, Head-to-Head and Where to Watch Load more
Curated by Taleb Kabbara · Source: sportsmintmedia.com