The All India Football Federation (AIFF) issued a Request for Proposal (RFP) on January 18, 2026, for broadcast rights to the Indian Super League’s truncated 2025–26 season, which begins February 14. The tender follows the termination of FSDL’s Master Rights Agreement and an earlier failed commercial partner tender. The season will feature all 14 clubs competing in a home-and-away format across 91 matches.
What Is the AIFF Broadcast Rights Process?
The RFP seeks a broadcast partner capable of acquiring media, digital, and production rights for the 91-match ISL season. The league will operate under a home-and-away format with all 14 clubs participating, each playing 13 matches.
This broadcast-only tender differs from the previous commercial partner RFP, which covered sponsorship, merchandising, and digital rights alongside broadcasting. The decision to issue a separate broadcast tender comes after FSDL ended its Master Rights Agreement on December 8, 2025, following disagreements over renewal terms.
The key dates for the Broadcast Tender
| Date | Event |
| January 18, 2026 | RFP issued by AIFF |
| January 27, 2026 | Last date for bidder clarifications |
| February 1, 2026 | Bid submission deadline |
| February 2, 2026 | Bid opening |
| February 14, 2026 | ISL season commences |
The compressed timeline reflects urgency, as the league faced administrative deadlock following FSDL’s withdrawal. When the AIFF launched a commercial partner tender in October 2025, no bidders submitted proposals by the November 7 deadline despite four organizations attending pre-bid meetings.
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Why Did AIFF Issue a New Broadcast Tender?
The ISL’s system stopped working when FSDL ended its Master Rights Agreement in December 2025 due to issues over renewal terms. A tender held in October 2025 to find a new commercial partner did not get any bidders, leading to a major money problem for the league.
Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya intervened in early January 2026, announcing the ISL would restart on February 14 and pledging that Prasar Bharati would broadcast matches if no commercial broadcaster emerged. Following ministerial negotiations, all 14 clubs confirmed participation after accepting a cost-sharing arrangement.
In this setup, clubs handle 60 percent of the operational costs, contributing Rs 1 crore each. The AIFF takes care of the other 40 percent of the Rs 25 crore budget for the season.
What Are the Eligibility Requirements?
Financial Criteria:
- Net worth of Rs 10 crore as of FY 2024–25 close
- Average annual revenue of Rs 10 crore over FY 2022–23, 2023–24, and 2024–25
- Earnest money deposit of Rs 5 lakh, valid for 45 days from bid submission deadline
Technical Experience:
- Minimum three continuous years broadcasting or streaming live sporting events of national or international repute
- Minimum two full seasons producing and distributing live broadcast feeds for events sanctioned by a national sports federation or professional league in India
Corporate Structure:
- Must be validly incorporated under Indian law as an existing entity
- Foreign entities may participate if incorporated in their jurisdiction
- Consortiums cannot exceed three members
- For consortiums, the aggregate net worth of all members must meet the Rs 10 crore minimum
Foreign Entity Requirements:
- If working as part of a consortium, the main member must either already be registered in India or agree to set up an Indian subsidiary prior to signing the contract.
- Foreign bidders from outside the country need to provide an affidavit stating they plan to set up either a subsidiary or a branch office in India prior to carrying out the contract. They also need to get the required permissions related to telecommunications uplink/downlink and OTT regulations.
How Will the Season Be Financed?
The season budget set at Rs 25 crore shows a significant cut in expenses compared to earlier ISL seasons. The 14 clubs together provide Rs 14 crore, covering 60 percent of the costs, which means each club puts in Rs 1 crore.
The AIFF handles the remaining Rs 11 crore, contributing 40 percent, which highlights the federation’s major financial role. This shared funding approach allowed clubs to decide on joining after months of doubt about their participation.
Stay updated with AIFF decisions, ISL schedule changes and operational updates on Jeetwin Sports.
