The MG Indian Super League (ISL) 2026–27 is all set to be broadcast on Sony Sports Network, bringing the competition back to the network as the league begins a new commercial chapter under a club-led model.
The arrangement reportedly covers the 2026–27 and 2027–28 seasons, with the two-season deal valued at around INR 25 crore.
Under the agreement, Sony LIV will also provide live streaming of all 163 matches of the season, establishing a wide distribution strategy to connect the ISL with football enthusiasts throughout India and the sub-continent.
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 ISL is also expanding its digital distribution strategy. Alongside Sony LIV’s domestic streaming coverage, YouTube has become the digital streaming partner, providing 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.
Karan Yadav, CEO, Indian Super League, said, “We want the ISL to be the most accessible league in the country, and that means being present across the platforms where fans are choosing to watch and follow football. YouTube significantly expands our digital and connected-TV reach, while Sony Sports Network brings the scale, reach and expertise of a leading sports broadcaster to the League, providing fans with a premium live broadcast experience. India’s connected TV audience has grown by 23% year-on-year to 166 million monthly viewers, while YouTube CTV device-hours in India have grown by 77% over the last two years. By bringing together the strengths of digital and broadcast, we can make the ISL more accessible across screens and open the League up to a wider audience than ever before.”
Gunjan Soni, Managing Director – India, YouTube, said, “YouTube is where millions of Indians come every day to discover, follow and engage with the content they love. We are delighted to partner with the Indian Super League and make every match of the 2026-27 season available live and free on YouTube. This partnership brings Indian football to fans across the country on a platform they already use every day, while giving them more ways to follow their clubs, players and the League throughout the season.”
Rajesh Kaul, Chief Revenue Officer and Business Head, Sports and International, Sony Pictures Networks India, said, “Indian football has passionate supporters, deep local loyalties and rivalries that deserve a national stage. The ISL brings all of that together, and we are delighted to welcome it to Sony Sports Network and Sony LIV. With all 163 matches on Sony LIV and over 80 matches on our television channels, fans can follow their clubs through the season. We look forward to bringing our experience in football broadcasting to the league and helping its clubs and players connect with audiences across India.”
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.
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 MG Motor becoming the competition’s title partner.
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.
