Willow TV – North America’s premier cricket broadcaster – faces mounting pressure as it undergoes dramatic changes in 2025 following its controversial integration with Times Internet’s Cricbuzz platform. Recent developments reveal a service struggling to balance technical upgrades with subscriber demands.
The Streaming Revolution Gone Wrong?
Despite rebranding efforts in April 2024 ahead of the T20 World Cup, users report persistent app crashes and frozen streams across Android (), iOS (), and Apple TV platforms. The $9.99/month subscription service () now faces backlash over:
- Mandatory ads interrupting live matches despite paid plans
- No offline content access on TV apps
- Subscription cancellation requiring email support ()
New Rights & Rising Competition
Willow retains key broadcasting rights through 2025 including:
| Tournaments | Coverage Area |
|---|---|
| Indian Premier League | USA/Canada |
| Major League Cricket | USA exclusive |
| Caribbean Premier League | West Indies/USA |
However, ESPN+ now challenges Willow’s dominance after acquiring New Zealand home match rights previously held by Willow until 2013 ().
The Technical Timeout Crisis
Recent app updates (Jan 2025) failed to address:
- Chromecast compatibility issues reported since 2014 launch ()
- iOS screen rotation limitations ()
- Background audio playback restrictions ()
A Willow spokesperson stated: “We’re prioritizing infrastructure upgrades during the 2025 ICC Qualifier series.” However, subscribers remain skeptical after 2.2/5 star ratings on Google Play () and similar complaints across platforms.
