Decision on Films: OTT Platforms Over Producers!

Telugu film industry has largely become dependent on OTT deals and this has brought about a massive change in the business side of things of late.

In recent times, OTT platforms have started playing a very important role in deciding the release dates of movies. Earlier, producers mainly focused on theatrical collections, but now the situation has completely changed.

Even if a movie is ready for release, it cannot hit theatres unless the OTT deal is confirmed. This is because the digital rights are giving producers the financial security they need, especially when there is doubt about whether the film can make profits at the box office.

Many medium-budget films are waiting for OTT approval before fixing their release dates. For big-star movies, the situation is a little different but equally dependent.

Even though theatres guarantee strong openings, producers are waiting for attractive offers from streaming platforms. Without finalizing these deals, they are hesitant to move forward, as digital rights have become a major part of overall revenue.

Reports suggest that a recent Pan-India film managed to sell its OTT rights in multiple languages for a huge amount, ensuring early recovery of investment. This trend shows that OTT has almost become a deciding factor in the movie business. While theatres continue to provide mass appeal, the future of most films now strongly depends on when and how the OTT release is finalized.