Do you guys remember the last time an OTT platform in India faced such massive and nearly unanimous “frustration,” “anger,” “exhaustion,” and, to a certain extent, “hate,” like JioHotstar has since its arrival in the Indian OTT market? Just a few days ago, the platform’s live streaming of the IPL 2025 event drew tons of complaints from viewers. And now, it seems like cricket fans in India have become even harsher with their views about the ongoing India vs England 2025 Test series.
From audio issues to poor commentary quality, from the growing demand for more regional language options to childish scorecard designs, from low video quality to unexpected technical glitches and customer care problems, JioHotstar has surrounded itself with a mountain of obstacles. And the worst part? Most of these issues still haven’t been addressed.
Which is why a noticeable section of cricket-loving fans in India has found an alternative: switching to VPNs or using pirated websites to watch the ongoing India vs England series instead of JioHotstar.
How!! Pls tell me. For the love of god I cannot watch the JioHotstar version of the game. VPN??
— Adi (@adipatil) June 20, 2025
Looks as if we are watching a Ranji match being played. Abysmal picture quality with #JioHotstar in #INDvsENG test. The terrible scorecard makes it even worse to look at. I'm gonna switch to @SkyCricket through VPN.
— Cryptonian (@RonDex59038684) June 20, 2025
Indian viewers have consistently faced the above-mentioned technical issues, poor quality, and unresolved complaints for a while now, which has steadily eroded their trust in the platform. This is especially damaging when it comes to live sports, where real-time, seamless streaming is non-negotiable.
The shift to VPNs and pirated sites directly translates to lost subscription revenue. And once users discover reliable alternatives — even if they’re unethical or illegal — they’re far less likely to return to a platform that failed them when it mattered.
The Indian OTT market is highly competitive, with players like Amazon Prime Video, Netflix, ZEE5, and others all vying for subscriber attention. While JioHotstar has historically leveraged major sports rights like the IPL and international cricket, repeated failures could open the door for competitors to gain ground, especially if they offer a more stable and user-friendly experience.
JioHotstar entered the OTT market with enormous hype and deep pockets. So poor performance now doesn’t just lead to user drop-off — it leads to trust erosion.
When a large section of users is willing to go as far as using pirated streams or VPNs, it’s a clear message: JioHotstar is no longer worth it, even if it’s the official broadcaster.
JioHotstar must now immediately prioritise technical stability for live sports. At the same time, it needs to revamp customer service to handle complaints efficiently and genuinely listen to user feedback, especially when it comes to commentary and regional language support. Stay tuned for more updates.