Kolkata : Indian Super League (ISL) has named YouTube as its digital streaming partner for the 2026-27 season, making all 163 matches available live and free on the platform, even as the same full season will stream on subscription-based SonyLIV.
Sony Sports Network will separately broadcast more than 80 matches on television in India. The arrangement marks a significant shift in the digital distribution of India’s top-flight men’s football league.
FanCode streamed the ISL during the previous season after acquiring the broadcasting rights for more than Rs 8 crore, according to reports at the time.
The latest rights process saw interest from Google, YouTube, Zee and Sony Sports, with Zee and Sony emerging as the final contenders, according to news reports.
Sony eventually secured the television and SonyLIV streaming rights, while YouTube has come on board as the free digital streaming partner.
The financial terms of the latest rights arrangement have not been disclosed. Zee had also been strengthening its sports play, including through Unite8 Sports and the streaming of the FIFA World Cup 2026 on ZEE5. Sony Sports, meanwhile, has previously carried the ISL and will now return as the league’s television broadcaster.
The YouTube partnership goes beyond carrying live matches.
ISL will build a wider content ecosystem around the competition on the platform, including match highlights, Shorts, official post-match player interviews, tactical analysis, behind-the-scenes content and other programming around teams and players.
That gives the league multiple opportunities to reach fans before, during and after matches rather than limiting its YouTube presence to the live feed.
The distribution strategy now gives ISL three different routes to viewers in India: free live streaming of the entire season on YouTube, television coverage through Sony Sports Network and subscription-based digital streaming through SonyLIV.
YouTube will also extend live streaming of ISL internationally, widening the league’s digital availability beyond India.
The move comes as connected-TV viewing continues to expand in the country.
According to ISL, India’s connected-TV audience has grown 23% year-on-year to 166 million monthly viewers, while YouTube CTV device-hours in India have increased 77% over the past two years.
Karan Yadav, CEO, Indian Super League, said YouTube would significantly expand the league’s digital and connected-TV reach, while Sony Sports would provide the scale and broadcast expertise of an established sports network.
“We want the ISL to be the most accessible league in the country, and that means being present across the platforms where fans are choosing to watch and follow football,” Yadav said.
“By bringing together the strengths of digital and broadcast, we can make the ISL more accessible across screens and open the League up to a wider audience than ever before,” he added.
Gunjan Soni, Managing Director – India, YouTube, said, “We are delighted to partner with the Indian Super League and make every match of the 2026-27 season available live and free on YouTube.”
“This partnership brings Indian football to fans across the country on a platform they already use every day, while giving them more ways to follow their clubs, players and the League throughout the season,” she added.
Sony Sports Network will televise more than 80 matches during the season, while SonyLIV will carry all 163 matches digitally.
Rajesh Kaul, Chief Revenue Officer and Business Head, Sports and International, Sony Pictures Networks India, said the ISL’s local loyalties and rivalries deserved a national stage.
“With all 163 matches on Sony LIV and over 80 matches on our television channels, fans can follow their clubs through the season,” Kaul said.
The 2026-27 season will feature 13 teams, with 78 Phase 1 matches scheduled between October 10, 2026 and January 17, 2027.
