AIFF received multiple bids for ISL 2025–26 broadcasting rights, including from JioStar & ABP

UK-based Two Circles and FanCode are other prominent bidders.

With only a few days left before the Indian Super League (ISL) kicks off, uncertainty over its broadcast future is finally close to ending.

The All India Football Federation (AIFF) invited a Request for Proposal (RFP) for media rights relating to the 2025–26 season of the Indian Super League, and the federation is set to open the bids on 2 February 2026 at 11:00 AM in New Delhi.

According to a Khel Now source close to the development,

“AIFF have received multiple bids, including big names like JioStar, ABP Network, FanCode, and the UK-based sports consultancy Two Circles. Two production companies have also thrown their hat into the ring.”

Bids from Zee Sports and Sony Sports, both of whom attended the pre-bid conference, were not confirmed at the time of writing. Sony Sports had sought additional time to submit its bid, but the federation denied the request.

AIFF will now conduct the evaluation process as outlined in the RFP.

Each submission will be assessed through a two-stage evaluation system. Technical bids will carry a 70 per cent weightage, while financial bids will account for the remaining 30 per cent. Only bidders who qualify in the technical evaluation will advance to the commercial stage.

AIFF has also enforced a strict e-bidding process, requiring both technical and financial bids to be submitted via email as password-protected PDF files. The two components must be shared as separate documents, with no commercial information included in the technical bid.

Eligibility criteria for bidders

The RFP clearly states that only broadcasters or internet-based operators with a minimum of three years of operational experience are eligible to participate.

Additionally, bidders must have a recorded net worth of at least ₹10 crore for the 2024–25 financial year. AIFF has also mandated an average annual revenue of at least ₹10 crore over the last three completed financial years — 2022–23, 2023–24, and 2024–25.

For consortium bids, up to three entities are permitted to form a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV). One entity must act as the Lead Member and hold at least 51 per cent equity in the SPV’s paid-up share capital.

Rights on offer in the ISL media package

The RFP offers a comprehensive bundle of ISL media rights, including live television broadcast, digital and OTT streaming, and mobile transmission. The successful bidder will also be responsible for world-feed production and all matchday programming.

AIFF has mandated the production of both clean feeds and commercial-ready feeds, complete with commentary, graphics, data integration, and studio shows. Notably, the rights are global in nature, requiring bidders to present a clear international distribution strategy.

To manage the compressed calendar, matches this season are largely scheduled as double-headers on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays, with kickoff times set at 5:00 PM and 7:30 PM. Single matches will also be played on Thursdays and Mondays.

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