FSDL set 550 CR price for ISL media rights

The Indian Super League (ISL)’s owner, FSDL, has set a Rs 550 crore base price for the two-year media rights tender. Television rights will be granted across the Indian subcontinent, but digital rights will be granted just for the Indian market.

FSDL announced a tender for ISL broadcasting rights for the first time. Despite the departure of Star Sports, they remain optimistic that there would be sufficient interest. It will aid in unlocking the wealth it has generated for Indian football since its tenth edition. Octagon, a respected media rights business based in the United States, will oversee the private auction process.

The two-year agreement will run from September 1, 2023, to June 15, 2025. The winning bidder will have the opportunity to extend their rights for an additional three years. It will begin on June 16, 2025, and terminate on June 15, 2028.

The bid deadline is August 7, and bidders will be selected on August 11. The FSDL will subsequently enter into a standstill agreement with the selected bidder and make any relevant notifications.

Octagon is thought to have contacted all possible players in the sports media ecosystem. However, most industry officials believe Viacom18 is the favourite for the rights.

Because the broadcaster has been losing money, Disney Star is unlikely to engage in the bidding process. Disney Star was losing more than Rs 100 crore to ISL despite paying media rights fees of close to Rs 200 crore every year.

Due to the high purchase price, other media businesses are also unlikely to participate in the bidding process. However, because Reliance, which holds a controlling share in FSDL, is also the promoter of Viacom18.

“The Rs 275 crore per year br price for ISL is too high because the property has not seen great traction and monetisation has been very weak,” said a top-level executive with a leading media network to Economic Times.

The ISL attracts almost 2 million fans to the stadiums each season, as well as 120 million domestic viewers. The figures are from the FSDL’s invitation to offer paper.

The 2019 ISL edition is set to begin in the last week of September. It will have 12 clubs for the first time since it debuted as an eight-franchise, three-month competition. RoundGlass Punjab FC will make their debut after qualifying by winning the I-League.

The ISL 2023-24 season will include 139 matches, which will likely increase to 163 with the establishment of a 13th team in 2024-25. Following the arrival of the 14th team, there will most likely be 189 matches in the following seasons. Inside Sport