Kazakh figure skating fans have complained about problems with watching competitions. Since August, ISU broadcasts have become unavailable for viewers from Kazakhstan on the organization's official YouTube channel. This was reported by Qazaqyia.kz citing Kursiv Media.
Changes in access to broadcasts became the reason for discussions and complaints on social networks. According to fans, the Russian service OKKO received the rights to show competitions in Kazakhstan, Russia, and Belarus.
At the same time, according to users, OKKO sports broadcasts are available only to viewers from Russia. Even having a subscription to the service does not allow watching international competitions from Kazakhstan without using a VPN.
Other fans also complained that they now have to use a VPN to access other official broadcasts. On videos of the ISU (International Skating Union) YouTube channel, a message appears that the owner of the recordings has restricted viewing of content in the country.
"We used to watch all ISU competitions for free on YouTube live, and now only selected starts will be broadcast for free," wrote one of the users on Threads.
Against this background, the fan community of Olympic champion Mikhail Shaidorov appealed to the International Skating Union, the Ministry of Tourism and Sports of Kazakhstan, and the Kazakhstan Skating Union. Fans are asking to return access to ISU broadcasts on YouTube for viewers from Kazakhstan or to remove the regional block.
"Commentators of the Okko TV channel make unethical statements about performing athletes, for example, they speak negatively about athletes' excess weight, which negatively affects the psychological and physical health of young viewers of the competition," the appeal says.
Recall that from February 9 to 14, 2027, the ISU Four Continents Championships will be held in Astana for the first time. The competition will become the largest figure skating tournament ever held in Kazakhstan.