New Delhi: The All India Football Federation ensured that the I-League will kick off on Friday but not after relenting to clubs’ demand of bringing in Sony Network as broadcaster, though the last-gasp arrangement means its first few matches won’t be beamed on television.
After the clubs put their foot down for Sony a day before the league’s beginning with Sreenidi Deccan hosting Gokulam Kerala in Hyderabad from 4.30 pm, the AIFF held a make-or-break discussion with them and Shrachi Sports, the marketing rights holder of the tournament on Friday morning, hours before kick-off.
The participating 12 clubs has agreed to pay Rs 12.5 lakh each to Sony to cover part of the broadcast cost, valued at around Rs 2.5 crore, apart from the Rs 7 lakh per team entry fee and cumulative fines of Rs 1.20 crore as decided by the AIFF.
Clubs expect over 100 of the total 132 matches will be shown live on TV once Sony’s agreement with Shrachi Sports gets completed by next week. Sony didn’t announce placing a bid and hasn’t spoken on the matter yet.
The 2024-25 #ILeague 🏆 season kicks off today with a doubleheader 🔥
Let the action begin💪🏼
📺📱🔗 Download @ssen_live app:https://t.co/lh0wME4h79 – Androidhttps://t.co/RbNjt52q3z IOS
#SDECGKFC #IKSCB #IndianFootball ⚽️ pic.twitter.com/oekkA83ala
— I-League (@ILeague_aiff) November 22, 2024
Late, late agreement
Due to the late onboarding of Sony, the first three matchdays won’t be on TV and will only be streamed on SSEN, the newly-launched OTT platform of Shrachi Sports, who had been the lone bidder when the AIFF requested for proposals for marketing rights of four national tournaments on October 23.
“We are going ahead with the matches on the assurance of AIFF and a letter would be shared from AIFF to all I-League clubs,” a club official told News9 Sports.
“The league is starting today. The first few days it will only be on SSEN and then Sony will come on board,” confirmed an AIFF source. “Clubs are happy,” a top AIFF official added.
The clubs had earlier expressed a wish to pay Rs 10 lakh each to bring Sony, who had demanded a part of the advertisement revenue, which Shrachi was loathe to agreeing as they had an understanding of keeping the entire ad money with them from DD Sports.
Shrachi and Sony will now negotiate to agree on a deal, after which the broadcaster would assemble its crew to telecast matches live. Shrachi has made all arrangements ready to live stream on its app.
On matchday one, Sreenidi take on Gokulam followed by Inter Kashi hosting promoted SC Bengaluru in Kalyani from 7 pm.
Clubs had demanded the direct intervention of AIFF president Kalyan Chaubey, who had earlier held meetings and assured them of quality broadcast.
The AIFF held a make-or-break discussion with clubs and Shrachi Sports, the marketing rights holder of the tournament on Friday morning, hours before I-League’s kick-off. Football Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
