In a move that could significantly reshape how India’s second-tier football competition is consumed across the country, the All India Football Federation (AIFF) has extended an offer to all Indian Football League (IFL) clubs for the 2025–26 season granting access to broadcast feeds from Prasar Bharati on a non-exclusive basis and without any access fee.
The Indian Football League, the rebranded version of the I-League and currently the second division in the Indian men’s football pyramid, is set to kick off its new season on February 27. With 10 participating teams including newly promoted Diamond Harbour FC and Chanmari FC the competition will open with fixtures between Namdhari FC and Aizawl FC, and Chanmari FC against Gokulam Kerala FC.
Under the newly proposed framework, clubs will be permitted to access match feeds produced by Prasar Bharati, India’s autonomous public broadcaster, which operates through its television arm Doordarshan and radio service All India Radio. Notably, AIFF has also waived sub-licensing fees for the upcoming campaign, offering clubs a rare opportunity to independently explore regional broadcasting and digital streaming partnerships without incurring centralised rights costs.
However, the distribution model does come with operational conditions. The broadcast feeds will be made available only at a location determined by Prasar Bharati. Any further transmission whether for regional television networks or streaming platforms must be arranged by the respective clubs at their own expense. AIFF, in its communication to the clubs, has clarified that it will not bear any financial or logistical responsibility for such downstream transmission arrangements.
Clubs interested in leveraging the offer have been asked to submit a formal expression of interest, including a brief explanation of their intended use of the feeds, documentary proof of any third-party broadcasting or streaming partnerships, and a list of matches they intend to distribute.
Financially, the arrangement introduces a revenue-sharing model aimed at incentivising clubs while maintaining a centralised ecosystem for league growth. Any income generated from broadcast or streaming through these arrangements will be split in a 60:40 ratio with 60 percent retained by the clubs and the remaining 40 percent allocated to the central revenue pool for the IFL 2025–26 season. Payment terms are expected to be finalised through mutual agreement between the parties involved.
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The development is aligned with broader structural reforms within the IFL, which is currently administered through a governing council comprising nine club representatives and a managing committee featuring five representatives — both drawn primarily from participating teams. The move reflects AIFF’s continued push towards decentralised governance and increased operational autonomy for clubs within the league structure.
This approach also stands in contrast to the commercial model followed by the Indian Super League (ISL), the country’s top-tier competition, where centralised broadcast and streaming rights for the 2025–26 season were sold to FanCode for ₹8.62 crore. In comparison, the IFL’s new framework prioritises accessibility and flexibility, potentially enabling clubs to tap into regional markets and local fan bases through tailored broadcast strategies.
AIFF has further emphasised that any liabilities arising from the onward transmission of feeds including technical, operational, or contractual obligations will rest solely with the clubs. The federation will have no involvement in managing or supporting third-party arrangements related to the redistribution of content.
With the new season set to begin later this week, the feed-sharing initiative represents a notable shift in the federation’s engagement with second-division clubs. By removing access and sub-licensing fees, AIFF has effectively lowered the entry barrier for clubs seeking to expand their media presence, opening the door for broader visibility and potentially new revenue streams through regional broadcast partnerships.
As the IFL enters its first full campaign under the new identity, the extent to which clubs utilise this opportunity could play a defining role in shaping the league’s reach and commercial footprint in the seasons ahead.
