Mumbai: ZEE5 is facing widespread criticism from viewers over streaming and subscription-related issues during its coverage of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, despite securing the tournament's broadcast rights for India through a last-minute agreement between FIFA and ZEE Entertainment.
Since the tournament began, users have reported problems including buffering, application crashes, login failures and poor video quality. Complaints have been widely shared on social media platforms, with many subscribers alleging that the streaming service has not met expectations for a major international sporting event.
A major source of dissatisfaction has been video resolution. While several international broadcasters are offering 4K coverage, ZEE5 is streaming matches in Full HD up to 1080p on supported devices. On web browsers, video quality is restricted to 480p, which the company attributes to anti-piracy measures. Concerns over stream quality were reported from the opening stages of the tournament and have continued during high-profile matches.
Subscribers have also raised concerns about pricing and device-access policies. Some users alleged that device-sharing terms associated with the World Cup subscription package were changed after purchase, while others reported confusion regarding the distinction between regular ZEE5 Premium subscriptions and the separate World Cup package required for tournament access.
Media reports have documented viewers experiencing technical difficulties while attempting to watch live matches, particularly during periods of high traffic.
Before the tournament, ZEE had stated that it had upgraded ZEE5’s technology infrastructure and implemented additional measures to handle increased viewership.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup is the largest edition of the tournament, featuring 48 teams and 104 matches. ZEE’s performance during the event is being closely watched as the company seeks to strengthen its position in India’s sports broadcasting market after acquiring rights to 39 FIFA events through 2034.
Based on The Economic Times report.