OTT Powerplay: Netflix Behind RC16 Postponement?

In the film industry, whether it’s a movie with a star hero or a star director, producers must deal with numerous conditions. Unlike the common perception that producers have full authority, the reality is quite different.

Even though they invest huge amounts of money, they often have to follow the instructions of heroes and directors, especially regarding market strategies. Since the rise of the pan-India trend, the producer’s control over content has weakened significantly.

Earlier, a hero and director were responsible only until the film was completed. However, nowadays, heroes are actively involved in business dealings as well. With the emergence of the OTT market, producers have found themselves with limited control over film rights.

Selling satellite and OTT rights has become a major challenge, as these platforms often rely on a film’s theatrical buzz before making a deal. If a movie lacks hype before release, even OTT platforms hesitate to acquire it.

Recently, reports surfaced about Ram Charan’s involvement in the OTT deal for RC16. SonyLIV had reportedly offered a substantial amount for the film’s digital rights, but Charan was keen on bringing Netflix into the picture for better global reach.

Since Netflix already has a packed release schedule for 2025, RC16 would premiere on OTT only next year. So, RC16, which was supposed to release in 2025, will now hit the theatres in March 2026. This has happened only due to the OTT deal with Netflix.

In this way, OTT deals are impacting even the release dates, and films are getting postponed by months and years.