The All India Football Federation (AIFF) secretary in a scheduled meeting on Thursday has promised about the live broadcasting of most of the 126 I-League matches this season. 

I-League clubs had already appealed to the AIFF, seeking its assurance about the live telecast of the I-League matches this season.

The 12-team league is kicking off on 22nd November with Sreenidi Deccan FC facing Gokulam Kerala FC at the Deccan Arena in Hyderabad and Inter Kashi will play SC Bengaluru at the Naihati Bankimanjali Stadium, Naihati. 

Incidentally, Inter Kashi has not been able to prepare its home-match venue this season also. After playing their home matches at Kalyani Stadium in the last I-League, the team has taken No Objection Certificate (NOC) from IFA to make their home-match venue at Naihati Stadium for all their home matches in the I-League this season. The club had promised the AIFF to host the team's all home-matches at a new stadium this season.   

The League will end on 6th April next year. Sporting Club Bengaluru and Dempo SC are the two new entrants into the league after finishing as champions and runners-ups of I-League-2 in 2023-24.

However, commenting on the live telecast of the matches, AIFF secretary Anil Kumar said, "We have floated to invite the potential sponsors on board and the initiative to bring the telecasting partners and broadcasting team on board for all the I-league matches, including the IWL and another elite group of competitions in AIFF. Hopefully, we will be able to complete this process by the second week of November as the first match is on 22nd November.” 

However, Ranjit Bajaj, the president of Delhi FC was one of the key club representatives to have placed the demand. He said, “AIFF has promised about the live telecast of all the matches this season. Let us see whether it is materialized finally.”

Although the AIFF secretary disclosed tender will be opened soon for the bidders and will be fixed within the next 10 days, it is believed Sony Liv is the front runner in the race among the bidders as the company has reportedly assured of beaming the afternoon matches live also.