The future of the Pro Kabaddi League (PKL) has taken an interesting turn even before Season 13 gets underway. According to a report by The Times of India (ET), negotiations over PKL’s next media rights deal are currently ongoing, with broadcaster JioStar reportedly seeking a significant reduction in the media rights fee compared to the previous cycle.
At the same time, PKL franchises are keen to protect the ₹905 crore benchmark set during the last media rights agreement. As discussions continue, several important questions have emerged regarding the league’s commercial future, broadcaster interest, and what this could mean for PKL Season 13.
JioStar reportedly wants a lower media rights fee
As reported by The Times of India (ET), JioStar has asked for a reduction of up to 50% in the next media rights deal. The broadcaster had acquired PKL’s media rights for ₹905 crore over five seasons (2021-2025), which works out to around ₹181 crore per season.
The report also states that JioStar was reportedly incurring annual losses of around ₹50-100 crore from broadcasting the league. Along with that, PKL’s combined television and digital audience has remained relatively stable at around 230 million, including nearly 190 million television viewers.
Despite these challenges, both JioStar and the league organizers are reportedly working together to find a solution that supports PKL’s long-term growth.
Franchises want to protect the previous benchmark
While JioStar is looking to reduce its financial commitment, franchise owners reportedly want to maintain the value established by the previous media rights cycle.
According to the report, franchise owners are divided over whether an open auction should be conducted if negotiations fail. Some believe competitive bidding could help discover the true market value of the league, while others fear it could result in a situation similar to the Indian Super League (ISL).
Why are franchises worried about an ISL-like situation?
One of the biggest concerns mentioned in The Times of India (ET) report is avoiding a repeat of what happened with the Indian Super League.
After JioStar exited ISL following commercial disagreements, the league’s media rights value reportedly dropped dramatically—from around ₹275 crore per year to just ₹8.62 crore annually. That decline also affected franchise valuations and the league’s commercial ecosystem.
Because of this, several stakeholders reportedly believe PKL should avoid a similar outcome.
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Open bidding remains an option
If both parties fail to reach an agreement, an open media rights auction could become a possibility.
However, the report notes that franchise owners remain uncertain about whether enough broadcasters would participate. During the previous media rights process in 2021, JioStar was the only bidder.
According to the report, Zee Entertainment could show interest if an auction takes place, especially after increasing its focus on non-cricket sports. Meanwhile, JioStar is still considered the strongest contender to retain the rights.
Revenue-sharing model could also change
Apart from the media rights fee, discussions are also taking place regarding the league’s commercial structure.
According to The Times of India (ET), one proposal under consideration is reducing the annual franchise fee while increasing the share of media rights revenue allocated to teams. At present, the revenue split reportedly stands at 80:20 in favour of Mashal Sports.
Such changes could help franchises remain financially sustainable even if the overall media rights value decreases.
What does this mean for PKL Season 13?
At the moment, no final agreement has been announced. However, these negotiations are among the most important developments for the future of the Pro Kabaddi League.
A successful agreement would provide clarity on the league’s commercial future and could move PKL one step closer to officially announcing Season 13.
Kabaddi Ultras’ Opinion
JioStar’s request for a lower media rights fee is understandable considering the current sports broadcasting market. At the same time, Mashal Sports and the franchises also need to think about PKL’s long-term future rather than focusing only on matching the previous ₹905 crore deal.
In our opinion, reaching a balanced agreement would be the best outcome. Retaining an experienced broadcaster while making necessary changes to the commercial structure could benefit everyone involved and help avoid an ISL-like situation.
Hopefully, both sides reach a solution soon. Once the media rights issue is resolved, the announcement of PKL Season 13 could follow shortly.
Stay tuned to Kabaddi Ultras for all the latest PKL updates. We’ve also covered this topic in detail on our YouTube channel, so be sure to check out the video linked below for a complete breakdown.
