The SonyLIV OTT platform has been facing rampant criticism online for placing advertisements even for paid subscribers. And now, the streaming giant has irked many OTT & small screen enthusiasts for another reason. Since the past few days, many people have been expressing their discontent online over SonyLIV’s plan to remove its live television channels portfolio from its OTT app.
As per several reports, SonyLIV will ostensibly remove live TV channels from its OTT app starting from 30th August 2023. This implies that Sony channels including Sony TV, SAB TV, Sony Marathi, Sony Max, and BBC Earth and other sports channels operated by Sony will no longer be available to stream for SonyLIV OTT subscribers. Whether Sony will offer a different OTT subscription plan which will include live TV channels viewing is not yet confirmed.
And OTT watchers are apparently not happy with this decision by SonyLIV to remove live TV channels from its streaming app. And their displeasure makes sense. Because in the cutthroat Indian OTT industry, the streaming audiences might afford to subscribe for a limited number of OTT platforms. Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Disney+ Hotstar and the now revamped Jio Cinema are some of the OTT platforms that are popular among Indian OTT audience.
But instead of adding more features to its OTT app, it looks like SonyLIV is not doing the right thing by removing its existing features like the live TV channels menu. Moreover, it does not seem fair to those SonyLIV subscribers who have already paid for their subscription. A number of paid SonyLIV subscribers are also demanding (proportionate) refund because of the same and they have opined that SonyLIV can’t just update their terms and conditions in the middle of their subscription period. So, it would be better if SonyLIV provides more clarity on that and addresses these concerns.
Having said that, in case OTT viewers are interested in streaming live TV channels online, then they can opt for other platforms such as Airtel Xstream TV, Disney+ Hotstar, Vi Play, Tata Sky Mobile, VOOT, and Zee5, etc.
https://twitter.com/Dhananjay_Tech/status/1683729569747197953
@SonyLIV
"Our Live TV Channels will be discontinued from Sony LIV from August 30th 2023."
If we subscribed seeing these in your OTT, we should get a corresponding refund. You can't just get away giving an updated #TermsofUse— Anil P. (@Tiqmarqs) July 24, 2023
@SonyLIV it's disheartening to note that live TV channels are being discontinued on Sony Liv platform from 30th August 2023. Are you going to reimburse a part of the yearly subscription amount to those who has already subscribed for the year? Otherwise it's a breach of contract.
— Purnendu Saha (@sahapurn) July 24, 2023
I received this too.
Where can I continue watching the live channels – is there a separate subscription I need to opt for, @SonyLIV?Also, it's unfair to promise an entire product/service at purchase and withdraw it mid-way : let existing subscribers avail till renewal date? https://t.co/cSilKbighX
— समृद्ध कुदेसिया (@SamridhKudesia) July 24, 2023
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