Overview
- ZEE5 cut advertised multi‑device access on its ₹799 FIFA World Cup pack to a single screen hours before Thursday's opening match, triggering a wave of angry posts on X and other platforms.
- Hours later the streamer said it would restore up to three screens on the ₹799 plan and up to four on the ₹1,699 plan for existing and early‑bird subscribers while shifting new purchases after a stated cutoff to lower device limits.
- During the Mexico vs South Africa opener many viewers reported lagging streams, app crashes, login lockouts and the absence of the promised 4K feed, making the platform's reliability a central complaint.
- Despite the company’s public reversal some subscribers continued to see one‑device restrictions and several users threatened consumer complaints or legal action over perceived bait‑and‑switch pricing.
- Zee also launched low‑cost Unite8 Sports TV channels that let cable and DTH customers watch the tournament for a nominal fee, and industry analysts say the late rights deal compressed testing and raised the risk of rollout failures.