AIFF to invite bids for telecast rights of I-League

NEW DELHI - The All India Football Federation (AIFF) will invite bids for telecast rights for its showpiece I-League that starts December 3.

AIFF general-secretary Kushal Das told IANS Saturday that the rights will be only for the 2010-11 season.

“After ending our contract with Zee Sports, we are now looking for telecast partners. And on Monday we will formally invite bids for the telecast rights of the I-League and the Super Cup. The rights will only be for the 2010-11 season,” said Das.

Last month, the AIFF and Zee Sports terminated their 10-year telecast and marketing rights deal four years ahwead of its expiry.

AIFF, whose deal with Zee was to run till 2014, felt that it did not get the desired publicity or coverage for its showpiece I-League.

Delayed payments from Zee Sports did not help matters and after Praful Patel took over as the AIFF president the federation decided to review the deal.

Even though the deal was to run till 2014, the contract has a clause to review it after five years and invoking it the AIFF decided to terminate the contract.

Reliance Industries Ltd (RIL) and International Management Group (IMG) Worldwide are also eyeing to become marketing and telecast partners of the AIFF.