ISL on Sony Sports: Will a poor response affect future plans? Sony’s Rajesh Kaul explains the league’s value Sony Pictures Networks India (SPNI) initially opted not to bid for the media rights of the Indian Super League (ISL) 2025-26, leading to concerns about the league’s television broadcast. However, the rights were eventually acquired by online streaming platform FanCode for Rs 8.62 crore. To ensure the ISL remains accessible to TV audiences, Sony Sports sublicensed the linear television rights from FanCode, allowing matches to be broadcast on Sony Sports Ten 2. This arrangement ensures fans can continue to watch the league on television while expanding its reach. Rajesh Kaul, chief revenue officer and business head for sports and international at Sony Pictures Networks India, explained the decision to Firstpost. He emphasized that ISL is a valuable asset for India’s football ecosystem and that the partnership with FanCode provided a strategic and commercial framework to bring the league to Sony Sports. The move strengthens Sony Sports’ position as the “Home of Football in India” and complements its existing portfolio, which includes UEFA competitions and domestic football properties. Kaul addressed concerns about potential low viewership for the ISL on Sony Sports. He highlighted that the league has a strong and loyal fan base, and football viewership in India has been growing steadily. Sony Sports Ten 2 has already established itself as a preferred destination for football fans, and the network is confident that ISL will benefit from its strong distribution, production quality, and marketing support. The focus, he said, is on scaling up fan engagement rather than short-term benchmarks.#indian_super_league #fancode #all_india_football_federation #sony_pictures_networks_india #rajesh_kaul
