SonyLIV Bags ISL 2026-27 Streaming Rights: How to Watch the MG Indian Super League

If you searched for "sonyliv" this week, the reason is football. Sony Pictures Networks India (SPNI) has secured both the television and OTT streaming rights for the Indian Super League (ISL) 2026-27 season, which kicks off on 10 October 2026. Google Trends data from 2 October 2026 showed the term "sonyliv" trending in India with roughly 20,000 searches and 800% growth in 24 hours — a signal of fan interest, driven by the news that every ISL match will now live on Sony's streaming platform.

What the SonyLIV-ISL deal includes

According to reports published on 1 October 2026 by both Sportstar and The New Indian Express, SPNI signed a deal covering both linear television and streaming. In practice, that means:

• Every ISL match will be live-streamed on SonyLIV (also searched as "sony liv" or "sony live").
• Most matches will also air on Sony Sports Network TV channels.
• YouTube and Google will additionally live-stream matches worldwide, giving the league a free global window.

One caveat: The New Indian Express quoted a source saying "the deal has been agreed and it is subject to formalities and paperwork," with an official announcement expected in early October 2026. So treat the arrangement as confirmed by sources but pending a formal signing ceremony at the time of reporting.

Season schedule and the MG title sponsorship

The 2026-27 ISL season begins on 10 October 2026 with Bengaluru FC hosting Sporting Club Delhi at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium in Bengaluru, and is scheduled to run through May 2027. East Bengal enters as the defending champion.

The league also regained a title sponsor after a three-year gap: Morris Garages (MG) was announced as title sponsor on 1 October 2026, rebranding the competition as the MG Indian Super League. ISL CEO Karan Yadav called the return of a title sponsor "a significant milestone" for the club-led league. MG's India operations are run through a JSW Group-SAIC Motor joint venture, and the brand already partners with Liverpool FC and Arsenal globally.

How Sony won the rights — and what changed for fans

The rights race reportedly drew Google, YouTube, Zee and Sony Sports, with Zee and Sony reaching the final stage before Sony outbid Zee. Financial terms were not disclosed, so any claims about the deal's value are speculation. For context, FanCode — which streamed the truncated 2025-26 season — had reportedly paid over Rs 8 crore for those rights, with Sony Sports later airing matches on TV.

For viewers, the practical shift is consolidation. Last season split coverage between FanCode (streaming) and Sony Sports (TV); now a single SonyLIV subscription covers every match, while casual viewers still get most games on Sony's TV channels and a free worldwide stream via YouTube and Google. SonyLIV subscription pricing and any regional restrictions for the ISL stream had not been announced in the reported sources as of early October 2026.

Why it matters for Indian football

The hybrid SonyLIV-plus-TV model arrives as the ISL transitions to a club-run structure. A committed broadcaster with both digital and television reach, combined with a returning title sponsor, gives the league commercial stability it lacked during the uncertain 2025-26 campaign. For the OTT market, it also sharpens competition: SonyLIV adds a full domestic football league to a sports portfolio that already spans cricket and international football, at a time when Zee5 and JioHotstar are aggressively bidding for live sports.