8 Weeks OTT Release: Why So Much Confusion!

Over the last few months, there has been a lot of debate happening about the theatrical window for new films. On one hand, exhibit has have been pressurising distributors and producers to ensure that a new theatrical film does not arrive on OT for at least eight weeks.

Now in what could be considered an extremely crucial meeting held today at Hotel Dasapalla, leading film producers and representatives from the Producers’ Associations and Guilds of Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Kerala met to address the critical challenges threatening the film production sector.

The amalgamation has unanimously condemned any unilateral decisions taken by other stakeholders of the industry regarding theatrical terms or 8 Weeks OTT window terms, without mutual consultation.

It was emphasized that the existing film-making ecosystem, which supports thousands of livelihoods, cannot be disturbed overnight, as such sudden shifts would create chaos for projects at various stages of production.

This would essentially mean that the producers have collectively decided that it is impossible for them to pass a unilateral decision against the OTT prospect.

It has been confirmed by the producers that it is tough on their part to anonymously decide whether a film must arrive on OTT only eight weeks after the theatre release. This is a result of the growing importance of the OTT market and its financial revenues in the film circuit.

This has resulted in a conflict between exhibitors and producers within the film industry as there is a clear difference in opinion. So we have to see how things would shape up in the near future.