Cristiano Ronaldo's move to Al Nassr fundamentally altered the commercial gravity of Middle Eastern football, pulling tens of millions of viewers across South Asia into a broadcast conversation that once barely registered. For Indian viewers, the question of where to watch has now been answered definitively: FanCode holds exclusive streaming rights to the Saudi Pro League for the 2025–26 season, replacing Sony Sports Network and SonyLIV, which carried the broadcast in prior campaigns.
A Broadcast Shift That Changes the Viewing Equation
The transition from a traditional satellite network to a digital-first platform marks a significant structural change in how premium football content reaches Indian households. Sony's infrastructure meant millions of cable and DTH subscribers could tune in without any additional app or registration. FanCode, by contrast, is a subscription-based streaming service — leaner in its distribution, but considerably more flexible in how it packages content.
For the majority of viewers, access requires downloading the FanCode application on iOS or Android, or visiting www.fancode.com directly. Smart TV users can access the service through Android TV, Amazon FireStick, or JioSTB. The one traditional television option that remains available is through Tata Play, where FanCode Sports appears on channel 475 — though this linear channel prioritises the highest-profile fixtures rather than carrying the full broadcast slate.
Subscription Options: What Indian Viewers Actually Need to Know
FanCode has structured its pricing around three distinct tiers, each suited to a different type of viewer. Understanding which tier fits your viewing habits can save both money and frustration.
- Match Pass: Priced at approximately ₹25–₹29 per fixture, this is the most accessible entry point for casual viewers who want to watch a specific Al Nassr or Al Hilal fixture without committing to a longer subscription.
- Monthly Pass: A rolling subscription covering all Saudi Pro League content within that calendar month — practical for viewers who follow the competition closely during a busy fixture period.
- Season Pass: Priced at approximately ₹299, this unlocks the full campaign including the King's Cup and Saudi Super Cup. For consistent followers, it represents the strongest value-per-hour proposition of the three.
English commentary is available across the high-profile fixtures — specifically those involving the four clubs that drive the bulk of viewership in India. Lower-profile fixtures may carry only ambient Arabic commentary, a distinction worth knowing before purchasing a Match Pass for a less prominent fixture.
On-Demand Access and the Late-Night Time Zone Problem
Indian viewers face a persistent structural challenge with European and Middle Eastern football: kick-off times frequently fall between 10 PM and 1 AM IST. The Saudi Pro League, with matches scheduled in the afternoon and evening Gulf Standard Time, translates to late-evening and deep-night windows for viewers in India. FanCode addresses this through a Video on Demand library, where full match replays and extended highlights become available after the final whistle. For Al Nassr fixtures in particular, the platform has committed to making full replays accessible the following morning.
This on-demand infrastructure is arguably as important as the live broadcast itself. A viewer unwilling to stay awake past midnight on a Wednesday can still watch a complete replay with English commentary at a convenient hour — an arrangement that brings the Saudi Pro League closer in accessibility to how Indian audiences already consume recorded English Premier League or UEFA Champions League content.
The Broader Context: Why This Broadcast Moment Matters
The rights migration from Sony to FanCode reflects a wider industry pattern in Indian digital media: legacy broadcasters are facing increasing competition from agile streaming platforms willing to acquire niche or mid-tier sports rights at price points that make commercial sense without the overhead of satellite transmission. FanCode has built its identity around exactly this strategy — cricket, kabaddi, cycling, motorsport, and now a premium football property that carries one of the most recognised names in global sport.
For Indian viewers, the practical implication is clear. There is no free-to-air option, no doorstep delivery via a standard cable package. Watching the Saudi Pro League in India now requires a deliberate digital subscription decision. What that decision buys, however, is a more tailored experience than traditional broadcast ever offered — flexible pricing, on-demand replay, and coverage concentrated around the clubs and figures that Indian audiences actually want to follow.