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In recent years, the Indian film industry has been largely dominated by OTT (Over-The-Top) platforms. Earlier, films would arrive on digital platforms only several months after their theatrical release. But now, the situation has changed completely. Even big-star movies are streaming online within just four weeks of their release. In some cases, films are premiering digitally while still running in theatres a trend that’s causing concern across the industry.
The strategy being followed by OTT companies is indirectly posing a threat to the future of theatres. Their game plan operates mainly in two ways:
Reducing the gap between theatrical and OTT releases: By shortening the window between a film’s theatrical and digital release, audiences no longer feel the need to visit theatres. The mindset of “I can just wait a few days and watch it at home” is becoming stronger, severely affecting box office collections, especially after the first week.
Direct-to-OTT Productions: Instead of spending huge sums to acquire digital rights, OTT platforms are now investing in producing their own original movies and web series. They believe that with the amount spent on buying rights for one major film, they can create two or three quality in-house projects. This trend could lead to many future films skipping theatres entirely and releasing directly on OTT platforms.
If this trend continues, the number of films releasing in theatres will drastically decrease. Small and mid-budget films will find the OTT route easier and safer. Eventually, audiences might only prefer watching grand, big-star, or visually spectacular films in theatres, while all other content remains limited to OTT. This shift could make running theatres financially unsustainable, leading to many of them shutting down. To prevent this, filmmakers, distributors, and exhibitors must work together to reintroduce strict rules regarding digital screenings. Otherwise, viewers will get used to watching everything from the comfort of their homes and soon, theatres might turn into storage spaces or poultry farms. And when that happens, audiences should also be prepared for OTT platforms to hike their subscription charges to any extent they wish.
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Comments (1)
The future of theaters looks worrying.