Updated on May 20, 2026news-current-topics

Why are websites like Bleacher Report banned in India?

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5 Answers

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Updated on Feb 18, 2026

Bleacher Report is a global destination for millions of sports fans creating and collaborating on the content at the intersection of sport and culture.

Right now bleacher is completely functional but earlier it was report ban in 2014. It was also mentioned in the plaint that plaintiff has made substantial investments in securing the Exclusive rights for the 2014 India-Australia Series. Since, international cricket matches are organized and played only for a few days in a year, the potential opportunities to exploit the Exclusive rights associated with a cricket match are primarily available only during the live broadcast of such matches. So plaintiff expected to earn substantial revenues through its internet and mobile app services during 2014 India-Australia series by offering live broadcasts of matches.

Therefore any hosting streaming making available for viewing or communication to the public of the 2014 India-Australia Series Matches as broadcast on the plaintiff channels by any means on the platform including the internet and mobile by any of the named or unnamed defendant websites would be illegal. To prevent that bleacher report was banned for some time in India

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A
Answered on Jan 31, 2018

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At the moment, Bleacher Report (thankfully) is live in India. You can access it. However, back in 2014, the government did ban it.

The basic reason behind this was this—India-Australia cricket series was happening. And only Star Network had the exclusive rights to telecast it live and its highlights. However, Bleacher Report telecast the match anyway. Following, Star network, I think, sent a legal notice to Bleacher Report. And then even got in talks with I&B ministry. Soon after, Bleacher Report was banned.

It’s now back. How? I don’t know. But you can now easily access it.

Here’s a tip. In recent times, an awful lot of things are getting banned (take the clue). Many websites have been put down. So it is best you use backdoor methods and channels to access and use such websites.

A VPN would be more than sufficient to help you view banned websites. But if you want more privacy and shield from obnoxious regulations, you can always rely on the Tor Network.

Good luck!
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Holistic Living Explorer
Answered on Jan 30, 2019
It is additionally affirmed in the plaint that the offended party has made generous interests in anchoring the Exclusive Rights for the 2014 India-Australia Series. Since, universal cricket matches are composed and played just for a couple of days in the year, the potential chances to abuse the Exclusive Rights related with a cricket coordinate are fundamentally accessible just amid the live communicate of such matches. The offended party in this way hope to procure considerable incomes through its web and portable application administrations amid the 2014 India-Australia Series by offering live communicates of matches as communicate on the offended party's channels, rehash communicate, on interest content access to the matches, altered clasps, online journals, challenges and so forth.

In this manner, any facilitating, gushing, making accessible for survey as well as correspondence to people in general of the 2014 India-Australia Series Matches, as communicate on the offended party's Channels using any and all means on any stage including the web and portable, by any of the named or anonymous

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Search Optimization Expert
Updated on Mar 26, 2026

Websites like Bleacher Report were not permanently banned in India, but were temporarily restricted due to copyright violations and broadcasting rights issues. During the 2014 India–Australia cricket series, official broadcasters had exclusive streaming rights, and any unauthorized online streaming or content sharing was considered illegal.

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Answered on May 12, 2026

Sometimes websites are not permanently banned but become inaccessible because of copyright issues, streaming rights, licensing problems, or regional restrictions. Sports-related platforms often face issues connected to broadcasting rights because different companies own digital streaming permissions in different countries. In some cases, internet service providers temporarily restrict access due to legal or compliance reasons. Many people assume a website is completely banned when it may actually be a technical or licensing issue. India has also become stricter about digital content regulations in recent years, especially regarding copyrighted material and online streaming. That is why some international platforms occasionally face restrictions or limited access for users in India.

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