Mumbai: ZONET Cable TV. Pvt. Ltd. and Mizoram Football Association (MFA) have signed an exclusive digital streaming partnership with SonyLIV, India’s first premium video on demand (VOD) service to stream select live matches of the Mizoram Premier League (MPL) Season 8. This partnership will enable football loving audience across India to access the league on the go. The league is jointly organized by MFA and ZONET with the former managing the technical operations while the latter funding and broadcasting the league.
MPL has been a leading football league in the country and Mizoram as a state has produced nationally celebrated football players like Jeje Lalpekhlua, Lalruatthara, Jerry Lalrinzuala, Malsawmzuala, Lalthathanga among others, who have been plying their trade in India across top leagues. MPL has played a significant and impactful role in giving a development pathway to these and many more players from the region.
With around 3,000-4,000 live events across genres and formats, sports content is one of the biggest consumption drivers on SonyLIV. As first movers in the industry, the platform has consistently invested efforts in developing mainstream attention for ‘Non-cricket’ sports in the country. Football leads this category with an organic 4X growth YOY on SonyLIV. FIFA 2018 was a path breaking tournament that clocked landmark 70 million viewers on the platform, the highest-ever football viewership in India. With the biggest of international football leagues up their alley, SonyLIV has broken significant records in live sports streaming so far.
Announcing the partnership, Lalnghinglova Hmar, the Honorary Secretary of Mizoram Football Association said, “Mizoram Premier League is a platform that has provided the opportunity for the emerging talent in the bustling nursery of football for the past 7 years. We have overcome lack of funding, infrastructure and coaches to be recognized as one of the best scouting platforms in the country today. It is a matter of pride for us to partner with SonyLIV and reach out to millions of football lovers across the country and showcase the talent and quality of play on offer at MPL.”
“We have witnessed the change over the past 7 years since we came up with the idea to provide a structured platform for budding talent to flourish through Mizoram Premier League. Year on year we have tried to build on the culture of football in Mizoram and provide a better fan experience to our viewers. The partnership with SonyLIV will not only help us to reach out to a wider audience but will also help showcase the passion with which football is celebrated in Mizoram”, said LV Lalthantluanga (Tato), Director, Zonet Cable TV Pvt. Ltd.
Commenting on the partnership, Uday Sodhi, Business Head Digital, Sony Pictures Networks India said, “At SonyLIV, our intent is to create and amplify a multi-sports culture in India and ensure widespread reach. Partnering withthe Mizoram Premier League enables us to offer a potential platform to homegrown tournaments in the country and let the players exhibit their talent. Football has been a huge crowd puller on our platform and moving ahead, we plan to support more local grassroot level matches along with International leagues to build brand loyalists. I am sure these matches will fulfill our aim of enhancing consumer engagement further as we diversify our portfolio.”
World1 Sports, a leading sports management firm in the country, facilitated the partnership between MPL and SonyLIV. Prakhar Soni, Strategy & Development Lead, World1 Sports said, “We believe MPL is a case in example for running a successful, rewarding and high-quality league in the country and it deserves to be showcased at a larger platform. SPN realized the superior gameplay on display at MPL and have agreed to stream the season 8 of the league on SonyLIV. It shows their commitment to support such grassroots endeavors. It is indeed a historic partnership in the sport of regional football today.”
MPL features a total of eight teams that play home and away league matches. With a total of 61 games, including two-legged semi finals, and one Final, MPL continues to tirelessly help young footballers from the region showcase their talent for a roadmap into the future.
Watch select matches of Mizoram Premier League LIVE on SonyLIV, kicked off from 6th September.
