Tennis fans tuning into the US Open on JioHotstar this year have a right to feel short-changed. When SonyLIV held the rights, fans could choose from at least five simultaneous live courts in the very first week of a Grand Slam. Now, under JioHotstar, viewers are limited to just two.
This isn’t a minor inconvenience, it completely alters how fans engage with the tournament. The magic of the opening week lies in the chaos: upsets on outside courts, rising stars making statements, and the freedom to follow your favorites no matter how far down the order they are. Stripping that choice away makes the experience feel watered down, like being force-fed only the “headline” matches.
For a platform that positions itself as the premier sports streaming destination in India, this is unacceptable. Viewers don’t pay to be told what to watch, they pay for access. And right now, JioHotstar is giving them a curated, restricted version of a global event.
The question is simple: why should Indian tennis fans settle for less when other markets get more? If SonyLIV could offer the full experience, why can’t JioHotstar?
Until that’s answered, JioHotstar’s Grand Slam coverage will remain second-rate, no matter how much marketing gloss they put on it.