TV Premiere: More Work for Producers, Less Money?

Dhurandhar: The Revenge TV Premiere and Satellite Rights

A film’s journey doesn’t end with its theatrical run. Before it reaches television, it may have to go through another round of cuts and modifications. Dhurandhar: The Revenge has brought this issue into focus, with the TV premiere process raising questions about how much work goes into preparing a film for television.

A film cleared for theatres may still need changes before it can be telecast. Scenes involving violence, abusive language and other content may have to be edited to meet television requirements. This means filmmakers could be back at the editing table even after the film has completed its theatrical run. For lengthy films, too many cuts could also affect the viewing experience.

But certification is only one part of the issue. Satellite rights, which were once a major source of revenue for producers, are no longer fetching the same value for many films. With television deals becoming less lucrative, producers are having to rethink how much they can expect to earn from this market.

TV premieres still help films reach a wider audience, including people who may not have watched them in theatres. However, when satellite revenues are declining and additional edits are required, producers have more to consider before finalising these deals.

Dhurandhar has brought attention to a question the industry cannot ignore: when the returns are shrinking, does a television premiere still make financial sense for producers?