I-League: AIFF issues fresh broadcast tenders for 2023-24 season

The previous bid was withdrawn on 4th October.

The All India Football Federation (AIFF) has announced fresh tenders for the broadcast of I-League games for the upcoming 2023-24 season. The federation had earlier invited tenders on 22nd September for broadcasting of I-League for the entire season. However, on 4th October, AIFF had withdrawn the earlier bid and the interested parties were informed that their security deposits will be refunded in due course.

Regarding the fresh tender that the AIFF has introduced, here are some key takeaways for potential bidders:

Individual Bids for Each Venue

Interested parties are required to submit individual bids for each venue where I-League games will be played during the upcoming season. This includes bids for a comprehensive 6-camera setup for each venue, promising a more immersive viewing experience for fans.

Venue-specific Selection

The AIFF will select bidders on a venue-by-venue basis, evaluating their bids for the 6-camera setup submitted for each specific venue. This approach aims to ensure that the broadcasting quality remains consistently high across all locations, providing viewers with the best possible coverage.

Variability in Selected Bidders

It is worth noting that the selected bidders may differ for each venue based on their respective venue-wise bids. This decision reinforces the AIFF's commitment to delivering the best broadcast quality at each location, tailoring the selection to the specific needs of each venue.

Limited to I-League Season 2023-24

The bidding process is expressly limited to the I-League 2023-24, indicating that the AIFF is open to reviewing and possibly updating the broadcasting arrangements for future seasons, depending on the success and feedback from this initiative.

List of venues for which bids are announced

The AIFF has announced bids for several venues and these include the Deccan Arena in Hyderabad, the Khuman Lumpak Stadium in Imphal, the Naihati Municipal Corporation stadium located near Kolkata, and the Kalyani stadium in the Kolkata suburb of Kalyani. Additionally, the EMS Corporation stadium in Kozhikode, the Rajiv Gandhi Stadium in Aizawl, and the SSA stadium in Shillong have also initiated bid processes. Furthermore, the Namdhari Stadium in Sri Bangla Sahib village near Ludhiana, the TRC stadium in Srinagar, the Ekana Football stadium in Lucknow and Tilak Maidan in Goa.

However, later in the day AIFF secretary General Secretary later in the day, in a statement to TOI informed that Imphal cannot host games due to volatile situation in Manipur. Whereas, Aizawl FC and Real Kashmir FC are told to improve the ground condition or risk playing elsewhere.

I-League debutants Inter Kashi too, have been warned to improve the playing conditions at Ekana Stadium in Lucknow. This stadium has been designated as their home ground for the upcoming season.

The upcoming I-League season promises to be one of the most exciting ones, with 100 games scheduled to take place. This season introduces two new teams, Inter Kashi and Namdhari, who have entered the league via corporate entry. Their inclusion is expected to inject fresh energy and competition into the tournament, making it an even more thrilling spectacle for fans.

The winner of the I-League will be promoted to ISL next season.