Now we have many platforms available to watch live sports events like cricket, football, tennis online. But, which platform is the best? How much does it cost? And which plan offers the most benefits? Many people are not clear about these issues.
Currently, streaming services like Disney+ Hotstar, Jio Cinema, Sony Live, and Amazon Prime Video are the most popular in India. However, each platform broadcasts a different type of content. While some are limited to cricket matches, others also offer other sporting events.
Disney+ Hotstar is a popular choice for cricket fans. It can be said to be the best platform to watch IPL, international T20s, ODIs, and Test matches. However, there are different types of plans available in it. While some plans are only suitable for mobile users, others are suitable for TVs and other screens.
Platforms like Sony Live and Jio Cinema are the best options for football fans. Sony Live offers European leagues, Champions League, and other international football tournaments. However, it works on a subscription basis. Also, some selected tournaments are available for free on the Jio Cinema platform.
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Currently, if you want to watch matches for free, some telecom companies are offering special offers to their users. For example, Jio and Airtel companies offer the opportunity to stream matches for free through their apps if you take some special plans.
However, whichever platform you choose, it is good to consider things like its video quality, logging issues, and experience. Most platforms offer matches in high-definition (HD) or 4K quality. But, gradually, internet speed and app performance also become important.
Therefore, it is best to choose the best plan by considering factors such as what sporting events you want to watch? On which device do you want to watch? And what is your budget?
Also, some platforms only have rights for specific sporting events. For example, ICC tournaments are broadcasted by Hotstar in India, but leagues like PSL are only available on other platforms. Hence, it is a good idea to know in advance which leagues or tournaments you want to watch the most and plan accordingly.
Also, consider the additional benefits that come with some plans. For example, while Amazon Prime Video has some cricket matches broadcast, it also has movies and web series available in addition. Similarly, while Jio Cinema broadcasts some matches for free, other tournaments may require a premium subscription.
If you like to watch matches for a longer period of time, it can be financially beneficial to take an annual subscription over a monthly plan. Many platforms offer additional discounts on annual subscription. For example, if you take a Hotstar Super or Premium plan, you can watch all the tournaments in high-definition quality throughout the year.
If you already have a DTH connection at home, you can also check out the OTT bundles there. Some DTH providers, through their special plans, offer free access to OTT apps like Hotstar, Sony Live, Zee5.
In short, the key points you need to look at when choosing the best plan are:
- What are the sporting events you want to watch?
- On which device do you want to watch? (Mobile, TV, Laptop)
- Your internet speed, video quality requirements
- Subscription price & additional benefits
- Are there ways you can watch for free? (Telecom plans or DTH offers)
It is best to choose a platform that suits you based on these things. To watch the matches comfortably and without any interruptions, it is necessary to first choose a good plan and check the internet connection.
Choosing a plan to watch matches online is very important, because once you choose the right plan, you can enjoy the content you need without any hassle for the entire season.
Each platform has its own unique benefits. For example, Disney+ Hotstar streams IPL and international cricket matches, but the best video quality is available only on the premium plan. Jio Cinema is streaming some tournaments for free, but in the future, this too may target subscribers only. Sony Live gives importance to European football leagues, but it is a completely subscription-based service.
Internet speed is also crucial. If you want to watch matches in high-definition or 4K quality, you need a speed of at least 10-20 Mbps. Many people try to stream via mobile data without a broadband connection, but for a better experience, it is better to use a Wi-Fi or fiber network.
To watch matches for free, you should check out the telecom companies. For example, Jio and Airtel offer Hotstar or Sony Live subscription for free with some special recharge plans. This allows you to enjoy premium content at no extra cost. Cricket fans can especially benefit from such offers during the IPL season.
There are problems with using accounts shared by many viewers. Some OTT services limit an account to viewing on only one device at a time. For example, with a Hotstar mobile plan, you cannot watch on a TV or laptop. Similarly, Sony Live also has some limitations. So, if you want to share with family or friends, it is necessary to know those limitations in advance.
There are always offers to take up a subscription. It is common for many OTT platforms to give the first month free or a trial period at a low price, especially for new users. Platforms like Amazon Prime Video and Netflix offer trial plans at low prices for a while. You can use these to test whether you have the content you need.
Not all matches are available on a single OTT service. Many people think that all sports events are available on a single platform, but that is wrong. While Hotstar is best for cricket, Sony Live or Jio Cinema is required for football. Similarly, if you want to watch tennis tournaments like the US Open and Wimbledon, you should look at SPN or other platforms.
Is it worth it? The answer to the question depends entirely on your usage. If you mostly watch sports events, it is better to take a separate OTT subscription. However, if you also want to watch movies and web series, services like Prime Video or Netflix may be a good option.
Overall, to choose the right plan, you should first decide what your priorities are. By knowing what games you want to watch? What device do you want to watch on? What is your budget? Are there any free offers? If you make a decision, you can choose the right platform and enjoy the matches comfortably.
To get the best experience, you need the right platform and the right video quality. Many people want to watch matches in Full HD or 4K, but if you don't have a good connection, you will experience streaming issues. To watch in higher resolutions, you need an internet speed of at least 20 Mbps. However, if you are a mobile user and you are on a data limit, it is best to stream in 720p. Some OTT platforms offer automatic quality adjustment, which means that the video clarity will change depending on your internet speed.
To get an uninterrupted streaming experience without unnecessary interference while watching matches, there are some important precautions that you should take. Most importantly, make sure that no other apps are using data in the background. In some cases, if you have other devices connected to your mobile or laptop, the internet speed may decrease. Therefore, it is best to connect only to essential devices. Also, if you use a VPN while streaming, sometimes there may be a delay in the connection, which is why it is better to use a local server.
There are some alternative ways for sports fans to watch matches at a lower cost. For example, live streaming is available through some television channels. Channels like DD Sports in particular broadcast ICC tournaments for free. However, these channels only show selected matches. In addition, match highlights can be watched for free through some YouTube channels. This is useful when you are unable to watch the match live.
In some cases, telecom companies offer special benefits to their customers. For example, Jio and Airtel offer special recharge packs and free OTT platform subscription. This is mostly useful for cricket fans, as most tournaments are broadcast on Disney+ Hotstar or Sony Live. Also, if you already have a broadband connection, you may be able to get some OTT services for free through ISPs.
Sharing a subscription with family or friends has become very common these days. But some OTT platforms impose restrictions on multiple people using the same account at the same time. For example, the Disney+ Hotstar mobile plan cannot be used on TV, and Sony Live only allows one device at a time with some plans. Hence, it is necessary to check those restrictions before taking a plan. In some cases, taking a higher plan with family members can reduce the cost.
When buying OTT plans, there are many ways to reduce the price. Sometimes, special discounts are available for new users. Also, if you buy through some bank debit/credit cards, you may get additional cashback. Especially, if you pay through digital wallets like Google Pay, PhonePe, Paytm, there are some special offers. Furthermore, it is a good idea to check out websites that often offer discounted OTT subscriptions to find out about the offers in advance.
Some platforms offer their users a special trial period. For example, Amazon Prime Video offers one month for free, while Netflix sometimes offers a trial offer of a few days to new users. However, after this trial period ends, the subscription may be automatically debited, so it is important to know when the plan will end and cancel it in advance. In some cases, it is possible to purchase OTT plans at a lower price using promo codes.
In short, to choose the right platform to watch matches, you must first identify your needs. What sport do you mainly want to watch? What kind of video quality do you want? How much can you afford to spend? Are there any ways to watch for free? It will be easier to make the right choice if you find answers to questions like: However, there is a chance to get a good deal by using telecom company offers, bank discounts, trial periods. Finally, before taking a plan, one should check all the details properly and try to get a better experience at a lower cost.
Apart from choosing the right platform to watch the matches happily, it is also very important to have easy access. While some OTT platforms offer low-cost plans specifically for mobile users, some introduce special plans for TV or laptop users. For example, Disney+ Hotstar offers a low-cost plan specifically for mobile users, but if you want to watch the same content on a TV or other large screen, you will have to take a higher plan. Some try to watch these again on TV through screen mirroring, but some platforms block that feature.
To watch the matches uninterrupted, a good internet connection is a must. Many people face streaming problems, especially during times of high traffic, such as during big tournaments like the IPL. To overcome these, it is necessary to improve the internet connection. A WiFi connection provides more stability than mobile data. If you use a connection with a speed of at least 20 Mbps, it will be easier to watch in HD or 4K quality. Also, keep in mind that there is a Fair Usage Policy (FUP) limit when choosing an internet pack. In some broadband plans, the speed decreases after consuming more data, which can cause problems in streaming.
Also, some OTT platforms reduce the video quality depending on their server traffic. For example, when lakhs of people are watching the same match at the same time, the streaming quality may automatically decrease on that platform. The solution to this is to manually set the video resolution in the OTT app. In some cases, upgrading the plan can also provide a better streaming experience.
Also, some OTT subscriptions may seem expensive, but there are many ways to reduce them. In particular, special offers from telecom companies are useful for many people. For example, network providers like Jio, Airtel, Vodafone-Idea offer free Disney+ Hotstar or Sony Live Premium subscriptions with some special recharge packages. This means that you can get it on your mobile recharge plan without having to buy a new OTT plan.
Some OTT subscriptions, especially Netflix, Amazon Prime, Disney+ Hotstar, can be shared with family members to reduce the cost. For example, Netflix's family plan allows four people to watch at the same time, while Amazon Prime Video also allows multi-user login. However, some platforms have introduced new policies to regulate account sharing. Notably, Netflix has tightened account sharing limits. Therefore, it is advisable to check these rules before buying a plan.
There are also some alternative ways for mobile users to watch matches for free. Notably, JioCinema is streaming some special sporting events for free. Recently, tournaments like FIFA World Cup and IPL were broadcasted for free on Jio Cinema. But in the future, it is possible that it will completely switch to a premium model. Some TV channels, especially DD Sports, will broadcast some important matches for free. However, this does not apply to all sporting events, so it is necessary to know in advance where you can get live streaming of the matches you want.
In addition to these, some DTH providers are also offering OTT subscription bundles. For example, through services like Tata Play Binge, Airtel Xstream, Sun Direct, you can get OTT apps along with TV channels with a single subscription. This is especially beneficial for those who want to watch on multiple screens. Some broadband providers are also offering OTT subscription for free with their plans. For example, some OTT services come free with plans like Jio Fiber, Airtel Xstream Fiber.
To watch matches uninterrupted, using a VPN may seem like a solution for some. In particular, if you want to watch sports events that are only broadcast in certain countries, you can connect to that country's server through a VPN. However, some OTT platforms may block services when using a VPN. Also, VPNs can reduce connection speed, which can cause lagging issues in video streaming. Therefore, if you want to use a VPN, it is better to choose premium VPN services that work faster.
To watch matches with a better experience, the device you are using also plays an important role. When watching on a smartphone, problems such as battery drain and data speed decrease occur. Therefore, it is better to charge the phone before streaming, keep the necessary RAM free, and close background apps. If you want to watch on TV, you must have devices such as Smart TV or Firestick. Some OTT platforms do not work in a standard browser, so they require a special app.
In short, it's important to first check where the sporting events you need are being broadcast, choose the best plan at the lowest cost, improve your internet connection, and look for offers that reduce costs.