Pickleball gets a streaming smash as WPBL teams up with Sony Liv

MUMBAI: Pickleball is about to bounce onto a bigger screen. The World Pickleball League has announced an exclusive digital streaming partnership with Sony Liv, giving fans front-row access as the league gears up for its high-energy Season 2.

Under the deal, all 120 matches of Season 2 will stream live and on demand on Sony LIV, marking a sharp jump from the 90 matches played in the inaugural edition. The expanded season will run over 13 days and feature 56 players from 18 countries, underlining the league’s growing international ambitions.

Season 2 also raises the celebrity quotient. The seven teams are owned by high-profile names including Samantha Ruth Prabhu, filmmaker Atlee, cricketers Rishabh Pant and Sunil Gavaskar, actors Rakul Preet Singh and Jackky Bhagnani, along with the celebrity couple Riteish Deshmukh and Genelia Deshmukh.

The league, which is affiliated with the All India Pickleball Association, Asia Federation of Pickleball and the United World Pickleball Federation, is positioning itself firmly as a digital-first sports property aimed at young, urban audiences.

Announcing the partnership, WPBL founder and CEO Gaurav Natekar said the tie-up with Sony Liv would help the league scale faster and connect with fans across screens, as Season 2 brings more teams, more matches and a deeper talent pool.

From Sony LIV’s side, Rajesh Kaul noted that pickleball’s fast pace and celebrity involvement have already struck a chord with metro audiences, and the platform’s OTT reach will help deepen engagement through live action and behind-the-scenes content.

With a bigger calendar, a broader international mix and a high-visibility streaming partner, Season 2 of the World Pickleball League is shaping up as the sport’s biggest serve yet to India’s digital sports audience.