Why 'Fan Code' Trended in India: FanCode's F1 TV Subscription Deal and the India vs Afghanistan T20I Stream

Google Trends recorded roughly 2,000 searches for 'fan code' in India with about 600% growth in the 24 hours to 18 September 2026. The spike lands on the platform FanCode, which was behind two stories in the same week: taking over sales of F1 TV subscriptions in India, and streaming the India vs Afghanistan T20I series that produced a record-breaking century.

FanCode becomes the sole seller of F1 TV subscriptions

According to an Economic Times report dated 17 September 2026, FanCode will be the only place Indian fans can purchase and manage F1 TV Pro and F1 TV Premium subscriptions. The key distinction for viewers: FanCode handles the billing and account side, while the F1 TV product itself — live races with multiple camera feeds, raw team radio, telemetry, plus an on-demand library of documentaries and archive races — stays with subscribers.

The commercial logic is scale. Formula 1 says its Indian following has crossed nine crore fans, putting the country among its fastest-growing markets, and FanCode has carried F1 in India since 2024 under a deal running to 2028. The widened agreement also brings Formula 2, Formula 3, F1 Academy and the Porsche Supercup under the same roof, alongside FanCode's existing MotoGP and DTM coverage.

Two things remain unconfirmed as of 23 September 2026: the exact date the subscription migration takes effect, and the pricing of the Pro and Premium tiers through FanCode. Existing subscribers should wait for official word from FanCode or Formula 1 rather than assume anything about billing changes, account transfers or refunds.

The cricket half of the spike

The same week, FanCode streamed the Afghanistan vs India T20I series. On 17 September 2026 in Delhi, Abhishek Sharma made 108 off 34 balls, reaching three figures in 30 deliveries — the quickest T20I hundred by an Indian and by any full-member nation batter, per an AajTak report from 18 September 2026. India won by 127 runs to sweep the series 3-0, and FanCode's own social posts promoting the exclusive stream pushed the brand name into search bars.

What changes for viewers

• F1 fans: F1 TV Pro and Premium will be bought and managed via FanCode; the F1 TV feed and features are unchanged. Effective date and pricing were not disclosed in the report.
• Cricket fans: The India vs Afghanistan T20Is were streamed on FanCode, with DD Sports and Sony Sports also listed as viewing options for the third match.
• Motorsport fans: FanCode's F1 rights run through 2028 and now span F2, F3, F1 Academy and Porsche Supercup as well.

Google Trends measures search interest, not the cause of it, so no single trigger can be proven. But with both announcements landing within the same 48-hour window, the F1 TV deal and the record century stream together offer the most plausible explanation for 'fan code' trending in India.