India’s top premium sports broadcasting network, Sony Sports Network has acquired exclusive broadcast rights of the oldest Asian football tournament, Durand Cup.
The broadcaster will provide coverage of the upcoming 132nd edition of the competition for the upcoming two years between 2023 and 2024. Additionally, Sony’s OTT service SonyLIV will offer live streaming of the games. The media baron will succeed Sports18 in broadcasting the competition, and they will do so not just in India but also in the bordering nations of the subcontinent, including Nepal, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Bhutan, and the Maldives.
Durand Cup 2023 will have 24 teams competing in 43 games over a month, beginning on August 3. For the upcoming season, there will also be an increase of four teams from the 20 teams which contested in the illustrious championship last year.
Additionally, foreign teams will take part for the first time in 27 years. The Durand Cup will be expanded this year owing to the participation of army teams from Nepal and Bangladesh.
Most of the games will occur in Kolkata’s Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan. Guwahati and Kokrajhar in Assam will also share hosting responsibilities, each staging a quarter-final match.
Indian legend Sunil Chhetri lifted the championship trophy for the first time when Bengaluru FC claimed the title the previous year. With many fresh recruits being announced for all teams, competitiveness among the domestic teams will be fierce.