Star Sports are not Fool they have ISL & Pro Kabadi League matches in evening Prime slots they will try all possible ways to convince BCCI to have 10am start and finish off by 5-6pm.
Don't Forget Sat there are 3 matches in Pro Kabadi League, if there is Auctions at that time it will lead to fall in trp of those PKL Matches.
Not necessarily! Franchises can have individual partners as well. Remember when Star had KKR special while Sony were still holding IPL rights. Unless its a IPL event they won't directly have the ability to do so.