Viacom18 to replace Star Sports as official broadcaster of ISL

Viacom18 is likely to become the media and broadcasting rights holder of the Indian top-flight football, Indian Super League (ISL), as per reports. 

With this development, Viacom18 will replace Star Sports Network. According to reports, this takeover will happen after the 2024/25 season as the five-year contract with the Star Sports Network will come to end in 2023.

Since the inception of this tournament in 2014, Star Sports Network had the media rights to ISL. The matches were telecasted multi-lingually which played a very vital role in increasing the popularity of the sport among the masses. 

Viacom18 has been on a media rights signing spree. The company has acquired digital rights to the Indian Premier League (IPL), Women’s Indian Premier League (WIPL), SA20, Olympic Games 2024, LaLiga, Serie A, and Ligue 1. 

Currently, in the ISL 2022/23 standings, Mumbai City FC are the numero uno with 39 points in 15 matches. Followed by Hyderabad FC with 35 points in 15 matches. Both teams have qualified for the knockout stage of the tournament. The playoffs and final of the tournament will be held in March 2023.