The Ashes 2025 between England and Australia is well underway, but cricket fans on JioHotstar don’t seem impressed by the manner in which the streamer is handling the broadcast of one of the greatest cricket rivalries.
One of the most troubling complaints from viewers is the use of Augmented Reality (AR) ads placed directly on the field of play. These advertisements have been labelled “irritating” and “distracting”, as they move along with the camera, diverting viewers’ attention from the game and creating a visually jarring experience that detracts from the pitch’s aesthetics and the players themselves.
For a sport that prides itself on subtle artistry and concentration, having the backdrop of the game constantly interrupted with shimmering digital marketing is nothing short of a betrayal of the viewing experience.
Another major point of contention is the lack of 4K streaming quality. While JioHotstar often promotes “Asli 4K” streaming to attract users, the reality on large screens is frequently a blurry disappointment. Cricket fans have raised repeated complaints online about the absence of a true, high-bitrate 4K stream on the platform.
By prioritising immediate advertising revenue over quality of service — including inserting jarring ads and offering sub-standard picture quality — JioHotstar is inadvertently driving frustrated consumers towards illegal streams, which often offer higher-quality, ad-free versions of the same content.
The Ashes is meant to be a showcase of cricketing excellence. Instead, for many fans in India, it has become a painful reminder that when it comes to live sports streaming, the battle for profit often comes at the direct expense of the fan experience. Stay tuned for more updates.