Fans on X claimed that Zee5 reduced the number of devices supported under its Rs 799 FIFA World Cup subscription plan from three to one without prior notice. After acquiring the streaming rights to the tournament, Zee launched a World Cup-specific three-month plan priced at Rs 799 and an annual plan priced at Rs 1,699. Additionally, both plans contain ads, with Zee saying the annual plan will have “far fewer ads” than the three-month plan. 

The FIFA World Cup is not available on the platform’s free or basic premium tiers. Several users said the company advertised the Rs 799 plan as supporting access on up to three devices at the time of purchase. However, they claimed that Zee later restricted the plan to a single device, hours before the tournament began. 

Zee restores original device limit, issues persist: The company restored the original device limit for its World Cup subscription plans after backlash. However, subscribers continued to report other issues. Several users said Zee had advertised World Cup streaming in 4 K resolution. However, the company later informed them that sports content was not available in 4K, with mobile streaming capped at 720p and desktop viewing limited to SD quality. Meanwhile, fans also complained about persistent buffering during matches and said the platform had not activated some paid subscriptions even after the FIFA World Cup had begun.

Rights acquired shortly before the tournament: FIFA struggled to secure a broadcaster for the 2026 World Cup in India, with the rights remaining unsold until June 1, just days before the tournament began. The governing body initially sought around $100 million for the combined India rights to the 2026 and 2030 World Cups before reportedly lowering its expectations to about $60 million. However, broadcasters remained cautious. JioStar reportedly offered around $20 million, while Sony held discussions but did not submit a bid. Moreover, late-night kick-off times in India reduced commercial appeal. Against this backdrop, Zee secured the rights and subsequently obtained an interim anti-piracy injunction from the Delhi High Court before the tournament commenced.

Dark patterns on OTT platforms: A 2025 LocalCircles survey of more than 95,000 OTT users across 353 districts found that many consumers continue to face billing, cancellation and disclosure-related issues on streaming platforms. 

Key findings include:

  • 50% of respondents said OTT platforms made it difficult to cancel subscriptions by hiding or complicating cancellation options.
  • 24% said platforms continued charging them even after they had cancelled their subscriptions.
  • 53% said they were not informed upfront that some content would require additional rental payments despite holding a subscription.
  • 47% reported encountering extra charges during checkout that were not clearly disclosed at the outset.
  • 77% said platforms used “forced action” tactics, including requiring additional registrations, app downloads, additional information sought, or acceptance of new terms.
  • 86% said platforms used interface designs that made it easier to subscribe than to decline offers or cancel services.

Source: MediaNama.com