Fans on X claimed that Zee5 reduced the number of devices supported under its Rs 799 FIFA World Cup subscription plan from three to one without prior notice. After acquiring the streaming rights to the tournament, Zee launched a World Cup-specific three-month plan priced at Rs 799 and an annual plan priced at Rs 1,699. Additionally, both plans contain ads, with Zee saying the annual plan will have “far fewer ads” than the three-month plan. 

The FIFA World Cup is not available on the platform’s free or basic premium tiers. Several users said the company advertised the Rs 799 plan as supporting access on up to three devices at the time of purchase. However, they claimed that Zee later restricted the plan to a single device, hours before the tournament began. 

Dear @ZEE5India,

I subscribed to the World Cup Pack because it was advertised as supporting 3 devices, allowing my family to share the subscription. After payment, the device limit was changed to 1 device only.

This is misleading and unfair to consumers. Please resolve this…

— Jimmy Jose (@Jimmmyjose) June 11, 2026

How is @ZEE5India changing the plans and what they offer overnight and even for customers who have already paid for a specific plan?
P.S: when I paid for the 799 plan it was showing 3 devices but currently only 1 device is supported in the same plan. #zee #zee5 #scam

— Snehanjan Banerjee (@snehanjanb) June 11, 2026

I recently subscribed into the Fifa+ all languages plan 799 while it was accessible for 3 devices, That's why Subscribed into it, now it shows only 1 device, what's that's?

This Actual Scaming
Need to Report on Consumer court@ZEE5India @jagograhakjago #ZEE5#SCAM #ZEE5SCAM

— Arshad 🟧 (@Arshad_meme) June 11, 2026

Zee restores original device limit, issues persist: The company restored the original device limit for its World Cup subscription plans after backlash. However, subscribers continued to report other issues. Several users said Zee had advertised World Cup streaming in 4 K resolution. However, the company later informed them that sports content was not available in 4K, with mobile streaming capped at 720p and desktop viewing limited to SD quality. Meanwhile, fans also complained about persistent buffering during matches and said the platform had not activated some paid subscriptions even after the FIFA World Cup had begun.

I wanted to give ZEE5 the benefit of the doubt, but how tf is your stream half a minute behind man. You’re literally streaming to over a billion people and can’t keep it together

— Patil (@ppatillll) June 11, 2026

@ZEE5India feels worse than govt websites. Good going grabbing the fifa rights. But platform is substandard. Paid twice for fifa. Subscription not yet active. Chat buggy, doesnt work. Tried on mobile web, then mobile app. Contact us buggy. Doesnt work. My own organization is… pic.twitter.com/Uu48ZFOiEI

— Harshvardhan Modi (@hvmodi) June 12, 2026

The Biggest Scam in the History of Indian Digital Platforms: Misleading Advertising by ZEE5.

​Dear @ZEE5India,

​I recently subscribed to your World Cup Pack based on your explicit advertisements claiming that matches would be viewable in 4K resolution. However, after making the… pic.twitter.com/XlKYevXU76

— Sooraj (@Sooraj9847) June 12, 2026

Dear @ZEE5India,

I purchased your Fifa WC 26+ All Access plan yesterday (at exactly 10:51 pm) and it started playing the World Cup for like 30 minutes before everything went haywire.

Post that, the app (and the website) failed to even show that I was a paid subscriber.

(1/3)

— Rozario (@Messilicious_) June 12, 2026

Rights acquired shortly before the tournament: FIFA struggled to secure a broadcaster for the 2026 World Cup in India, with the rights remaining unsold until June 1, just days before the tournament began. The governing body initially sought around $100 million for the combined India rights to the 2026 and 2030 World Cups before reportedly lowering its expectations to about $60 million. However, broadcasters remained cautious. JioStar reportedly offered around $20 million, while Sony held discussions but did not submit a bid. Moreover, late-night kick-off times in India reduced commercial appeal. Against this backdrop, Zee secured the rights and subsequently obtained an interim anti-piracy injunction from the Delhi High Court before the tournament commenced.

Dark patterns on OTT platforms: A 2025 LocalCircles survey of more than 95,000 OTT users across 353 districts found that many consumers continue to face billing, cancellation and disclosure-related issues on streaming platforms. 

Key findings include:

• 50% of respondents said OTT platforms made it difficult to cancel subscriptions by hiding or complicating cancellation options.
• 24% said platforms continued charging them even after they had cancelled their subscriptions.
• 53% said they were not informed upfront that some content would require additional rental payments despite holding a subscription.
• 47% reported encountering extra charges during checkout that were not clearly disclosed at the outset.
• 77% said platforms used “forced action” tactics, including requiring additional registrations, app downloads, additional information sought, or acceptance of new terms.
• 86% said platforms used interface designs that made it easier to subscribe than to decline offers or cancel services.

Also read:

• Delhi HC Directs ISPs, Domain Registrars to Suspend 79 Rogue Sites Streaming UEFA Champions League
• Over 10-15 OTT Platforms Under MIB Examination, IT Panel Flags Regulatory Gap
• Consumer protection authority fines PhysicsWallah and McAfee for dark patterns: what counts as consent now?