Kamal Ghorui
Panaji: The All India Football Federation (AIFF) has allotted the broadcast rights of this season’s Indian Super League (ISL) to FanCode for Rs 8.6 crore. From among seven bidders, FanCode was handed the digital and television rights, while Kaleidoscope Production and Services (KPS Studios) will handle production of the league at Rs 5.2 crore. “The ISL is a significant addition to FanCode, as it represents the very best of Indian football,” co-founder Yannick Colaco said on Monday. “With the league’s strong and loyal fan following, we see a big opportunity to elevate how fans experience ISL through reliable, high-quality broadcast and a product designed around modern football audiences.” While ISL matches will be streamed on FanCode, the streaming company is in talks with television companies for broadcast. Clubs have been assured that any revenue generated will be shared with them. Besides FanCode, ABP Network, JioStar, Two Circles and Monarch–PR Solution were also among the bidders for broadcast rights. The Rs 8.6 crore that FanCode will pay for the rights is significantly lower than previous editions of the league, and lower than what clubs were hoping for. But given that there has been so much uncertainty, and negativity, surrounding the league, the interest from seven companies has provided some comfort. “We were hoping for a bid in double figures, but Rs 8.6 crore isn’t all that bad,” said one official who was part of the selection process. “KPS Studios will do the production for Rs 5.2 crore, which is much less than the budget that the clubs had set aside for production. Overall, the clubs are saving money this season and there will not be any compromise with the production quality. The specifications have already been mentioned in the tender document.” Kolkata-based KPS Studios, who beat off competition from Sportzworks for production, has previously produced Durand Cup, I-League, Calcutta Football League, Santosh Trophy and Indian Women’s League. “We are pleased to have concluded the ISL media rights process and to partner with FanCode, one of India’s leading sports platforms. FanCode’s focus on accessibility and fan experience aligns with our objective of expanding the league’s footprint and engaging more football fans across the country,” said AIFF deputy secretary general M Satyanarayan. ISL kicks off on Feb 14 with a high-profile clash between champions Mohun Bagan SG and Kerala Blasters in Kolkata.
