SPN bags exclusive rights to broadcast inaugural season of Premier Futsal

Sony Pictures Networks India (SPN) has acquired the exclusive rights to broadcast Premier Futsal, the world’s first-ever multi-national futsal league, ahead of its inaugural season.

As part of the agreement, SPN will broadcast all Premier Futsal matches live and exclusive on Sony Six, Sony ESPN and Sony Aath channels across its network. Digital consumers will also be able to live stream the matches on Sony Liv. The multi-city franchise-based league will be played across India from July 15 to July 24, 2016, and is set to revolutionise how the sport is played and consumed globally.

The acquisition of rights to broadcast Premier Futsal enhances SPN’s offering of football programming and bolsters the range of marquee tournaments broadcast on the network, adding Premier Futsal to such an iconic line up as the FIFA World Cup, UEFA EURO 2016 and Copa América Centenario.

Commenting on the development, NP Singh, CEO, Sony Pictures Networks India, said, “We are investing heavily in sports and building a strong sports entertainment portfolio. Besides cricket, basketball, tennis and fight sports, SPN’s comprehensive sports portfolio includes some of the best international football properties. With the introduction of Premier Futsal, we are bringing to our viewers a game of deft skills and international marquee talent. Premier Futsal will be highly action-packed and very entertaining.”

Dinesh Raj, Managing Director, Premier Futsal, added here, “The broadcast agreement with SPN is a truly landmark moment for Premier Futsal in our relatively short history. In the month and a bit since we unveiled the concept, we’ve made a slew of significant announcements, from unveiling Luis Figo as President and Virat Kohli as League Ambassador to confirming futsal legend Alessandro Rosa Vieira ‘Falcao’s’ participation in the league.”

He further said, “The signing of a broadcast partner only adds further credibility to our vision as we draw ever closer to kicking-off the league. SPN has a good track record of building up domestic sports properties, the IPL being one such example. As a result, we are confident that with SPN’s support Premier Futsal can reach similar heights and establish itself as among the most popular sports in India.”

Futsal, an indoor 5-a-side shorter variant of Soccer with two halves of 20 minutes each, is governed by Futsal Association of India (FAI) with accreditation from the international governing body, Asociación Mundial de Futsal (AMF).

Premier Futsal is a one-of-its-kind league which will bring the legends of football and futsal together for the first time. Led by the ‘Pele of Futsal’, Alessandro Rosa Vieira known as Falcão, the league will feature over 50 International Futsallers from four continents and 21 countries.