Inside Talk: The Downside Of 8-Week OTT Window Rule

The other day, at an Executive Committee meeting in the producers council, a decision was taken with many producers planning to release the films on OTT only after an eight-week window. This was not a new plan, and it has been implemented in other tinsel towns like Bollywood and the Malayalam industry for a long time. But here’s the downside, as discussed by a few small-film producers, regarding this rule.

Tollywood folks always choose quick bucks, as films that are hitting OTT in just two weeks or four weeks after the release are being paid a premium price by the likes of Amazon and Netflix. Now, if they want to implement the eight-week window, some small producers who know that their films can run only for a week in theatres are not showing interest in the rule. Because if they keep the film waiting for four weeks to release on OTT, The Digital streaming platforms won't be interested as they don't get the mileage from these producers, spending on promoting the film.

So, practically, producers who are not part of some elite active producers group are not even considering following this eight-week OTT window, as per the buzz being heard. But if there is no eight-week window for OTT, the theatrical footfalls will be dead very soon. Of course, more than anything, the content of a film is good enough to hook the audience right from the trailer. Those films will never suffer theatrically or OTT-wise.