New OTT: Flop Before Launch?

Kerala is launching “C Space,” India’s inaugural government-owned OTT platform, on March 7, aiming to deliver people-centric, meaningful infotainment and tap into the vast opportunities in the field.

Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan will inaugurate the platform at Kairali Theatre, with Cultural Affairs Minister Saji Cherian presiding.

The initial phase of C Space will feature 42 films, including those awarded nationally or at the state level, or showcased at major film festivals.

The platform operates on a pay-per-view model, allowing viewers to access feature films for Rs 75 and shorter content for a reduced fee. Notably, half of the proceeds go to the content providers, ensuring fair compensation.

Many OTT platforms in India struggle due to a lack of paid subscribers, even with some offering free streaming. The Indian audience predominantly favors established platforms like Hotstar, Prime Video, Netflix, Jio Cinema, and Zee5. For free content there is no competition to YouTube, leaving little room for other OTTs to thrive.

Given this landscape, skepticism arises regarding the potential success of a government-owned OTT platform. Concerns linger about whether government-run content would meet the high standards expected by today’s audience, which seeks well-written, well-researched, and technically sound content.

On top of it, ‘C Space’ would be even charging money for its content which simply doesn’t make sense and they are being too optimistic.

We have seen how government-owned Doordarshan channels became irrelevant as they couldn’t satiate the hunger of entertainment craving audience. Government-owned OTT channels might also suffer a similar fate. It would be a miracle if ‘C Space’ becomes a success.