Latest news with #OTT
Economic Times
7 hours ago
- Business
- Economic Times
DTH companies may get licence fee relief
Mumbai: The ministry of information and broadcasting (MIB) is reviewing the licence fee structure for direct-to-home (DTH) services as lobbying by operators intensifies amid rising subscriber churn and falling revenues, people aware of the development told ET. The ministry is in the process of preparing a Cabinet note that could lead to a significant reduction in the fee charged to private DTH operators, namely Tata Play, Airtel Digital TV, Dish TV and Sun Direct, the people cited earlier said, adding that any proposal to reduce licence fee will also require approval from the finance ministry, as it involves revenue considerations. Following the inter-ministerial consultation, the proposal will require the Union Cabinet's approval for implementation. DTH providers pay 8% of their adjusted gross revenue (AGR) as licence fee. Industry players argue that this cost has become increasingly difficult to bear, as more consumers migrate to OTT streaming services and the free-to-air DD Free Dish officials confirmed that deliberations are underway and indicated that a decision is likely, though they did not specify a possible revision follows repeated recommendations from the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai), which has urged the ministry to reduce the fee to 3% in FY26 and abolish it entirely by the end of FY27. Trai argues that DTH platforms should be treated on par with other distribution services, whether regulated or not, such as cable TV, DD Free Dish and OTT platforms, none of which pay a licence fee."The DTH sector is under considerable financial strain, and we urge the government to implement Trai's recommendations without delay," said Dish TV CEO Manoj Dobhal. "Regulatory relief is essential for our viability, especially as consumer behaviour shifts and revenues decline."India's active pay-TV DTH subscriber base has dropped from 70.26 million in 2020 to 56.92 million in 2025, a loss of over 13 million subscribers in five years, according to Trai's Performance Indicators FY24, the combined revenue of the four private DTH operators stood at ₹10,230 crore, down 5% from the previous year. Meanwhile, the IB ministry has issued demand notices worth over Rs16,000 crore to these companies for unpaid licence fees, a figure that exceeds the sector's total annual ministry's licence fee collection from DTH has plunged from ₹1,581 crore in FY22 to ₹648 crore in FY25, a decline of nearly 59%, highlighting the sector's worsening financial operators have previously petitioned the government to eliminate the licence fee altogether. They argue that their platforms should be treated on par with other TV distribution systems such as cable and IPTV, which are not subject to similar levies.
Time of India
7 hours ago
- Business
- Time of India
DTH companies may get licence fee relief
Mumbai: The ministry of information and broadcasting (MIB) is reviewing the licence fee structure for direct-to-home (DTH) services as lobbying by operators intensifies amid rising subscriber churn and falling revenues, people aware of the development told ET. The ministry is in the process of preparing a Cabinet note that could lead to a significant reduction in the fee charged to private DTH operators, namely Tata Play, Airtel Digital TV, Dish TV and Sun Direct, the people cited earlier said, adding that any proposal to reduce licence fee will also require approval from the finance ministry, as it involves revenue considerations. Following the inter-ministerial consultation, the proposal will require the Union Cabinet's approval for implementation. Explore courses from Top Institutes in Please select course: Select a Course Category Digital Marketing Data Science Design Thinking Healthcare MCA PGDM Public Policy Cybersecurity Management healthcare MBA Project Management Data Analytics Degree Finance Product Management Operations Management Leadership Others Technology Data Science others Artificial Intelligence CXO Skills you'll gain: Digital Marketing Strategies Customer Journey Mapping Paid Advertising Campaign Management Emerging Technologies in Digital Marketing Duration: 12 Weeks Indian School of Business Digital Marketing and Analytics Starts on May 14, 2024 Get Details Skills you'll gain: Digital Marketing Strategy Search Engine Optimization (SEO) & Content Marketing Social Media Marketing & Advertising Data Analytics & Measurement Duration: 24 Weeks Indian School of Business Professional Certificate Programme in Digital Marketing Starts on Jun 26, 2024 Get Details DTH providers pay 8% of their adjusted gross revenue (AGR) as licence fee. Industry players argue that this cost has become increasingly difficult to bear, as more consumers migrate to OTT streaming services and the free-to-air DD Free Dish platform. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 15 most beautiful women in the world Undo Government officials confirmed that deliberations are underway and indicated that a decision is likely, though they did not specify a timeline. The possible revision follows repeated recommendations from the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai), which has urged the ministry to reduce the fee to 3% in FY26 and abolish it entirely by the end of FY27. Live Events Trai argues that DTH platforms should be treated on par with other distribution services, whether regulated or not, such as cable TV, DD Free Dish and OTT platforms, none of which pay a licence fee. "The DTH sector is under considerable financial strain, and we urge the government to implement Trai's recommendations without delay," said Dish TV CEO Manoj Dobhal. "Regulatory relief is essential for our viability, especially as consumer behaviour shifts and revenues decline." India's active pay-TV DTH subscriber base has dropped from 70.26 million in 2020 to 56.92 million in 2025, a loss of over 13 million subscribers in five years, according to Trai's Performance Indicators Reports. In FY24, the combined revenue of the four private DTH operators stood at ₹10,230 crore, down 5% from the previous year. Meanwhile, the IB ministry has issued demand notices worth over Rs16,000 crore to these companies for unpaid licence fees, a figure that exceeds the sector's total annual revenue. The ministry's licence fee collection from DTH has plunged from ₹1,581 crore in FY22 to ₹648 crore in FY25, a decline of nearly 59%, highlighting the sector's worsening financial position. DTH operators have previously petitioned the government to eliminate the licence fee altogether. They argue that their platforms should be treated on par with other TV distribution systems such as cable and IPTV, which are not subject to similar levies.
Hindustan Times
13 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
Bakaiti actor Rajesh Tailang: Audiences had appetite for new content but weren't served that
There was a time when visiting movie theatres was considered to be the ultimate viewing experience. A few years into it, OTT became the next big thing. Back when theatres thrived, there was superstar culture, where people would spend money to watch superstars the most on the big screen. Although other actors got recognition, nobody quite reached the level that superstars did. During his exclusive chat with OTTplay, Rajesh Tailang, who achieved fame with OTT shows (soon to be seen as the male lead in Bakaiti), discussed how the game changed for him, along with many of his peers, with the introduction of OTT. Rajesh Tailang in Bakaiti 'OTT opened up a lot of opportunities, not just for actors' When asked if OTT opened up a lot of opportunities for many actors to be recognized as versatile characters nonetheless, Rajesh simply agreed and said that it served as a major place of recognition beyond just actors. 'OTT opened up a lot of opportunities, not only for actors but every department of filmmaking. A lot of DOPs didn't find good work, and that held true for directors, writers and producers too,' he shared. For the uninitiated, Rajesh is a director and writer apart from being an actor. Although he has worked majorly in theatre, and confessed to going back to his roots when the going got tough, he has also written and directed various short films, along with writing for the TV series, Chand Pe Chai. Ask him how he earned a living when not acting, Rajesh said, 'I actually went back to theatre. I chose not to act because I kept getting offered the same kind of role and wanted to do something different. So, it was my choice to not work in the industry. I came back when I got good roles again.' 'We talk about actors because they appear in front of us, but everybody got a good opportunity thanks to OTT' Even though OTT might not be in the best place now with various seasons getting scrapped, there was a time when it provided a platform to everyone. Rajesh agrees about the same, while referring to how only actors get noticed because they are in front of the screen, but OTT provided everyone an equal opportunity and brought the best of talent to the fore. 'People from every department got various opportunities because of OTT, not just actors. We can talk about actors because they appear in front of us. You are talking to me about actors because I am predominantly an actor, but everyone has got good opportunities,' the Bakaiti's lead actor said. 'Audiences had an appetite for good content but were not served that' One also cannot deny how thanks to the rise of OTT, especially at the peak of COVID-19 and its imminent lockdown, the audiences were exposed to world cinema. They got an opportunity to explore content from different states within India and across the globe. This, Rajesh points out, helped the audiences find hidden gems and talented artists they might have otherwise not known about. 'The audiences also got an opportunity to watch different kinds of content. They were also limited to the same kind of films and TV serials. Even if the audiences would want to, and there was an appetite for new content but they were not served that,' Rajesh said. The actor, who has worked on OTT shows like Mirzapur, Rangbaaz and Delhi Crime, will be back for Bakaiti. Before the release of Delhi Crime season 2, one can watch Rajesh Tailang in Bakaiti that will stream on Zee5 via OTTplay Premium from August 1, 2025.
Time of India
14 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Mahavatar Narsimha OTT release: Animated action blockbuster may premiere on this platform after its run in theatres
Mahavatar Narsimha OTT release: Mahavatar Narsimha, which hit the screens on July 25, has exceeded expectations at the box office and emerged as a commercial success. The animated drama has also received rave reviews with critics lauding the storyline and the presentation. Mahavatar Narsimha will premiere on OTT after its theatrical run. Rohit Jaiswal, a trade analyst, told Indiatimes that there is a strong chace of the Hombale Films-backed blockbuster premiering on JioHotstar. 'This is a Hombale film so there is a 50% possibility of it going to JioHotstar,' he said. The Hindi version of Prabhas' Salaar premiered on JioHotstar after its theatrical run. Similarly, the 2017 blockbuster Raajakumara is available on the platform in Hindi. Going by this, it appears that Mahavatar Narsimha (or at least its Hindi version) too will follow a similar path. The Telugu, Kannada, Tamil, and Malayalam versions may land elsewhere. Mahavatar Narsimha plot explored Set in a mythic world of demigods and demons, Mahavatar Narsimha focuses on the seemingly invincible demon king Hiranyakashipu. He vows to avenge his brother Hiranyaksha's death at the hands of Lord Vishnu's Varaha avatar. He then adopts the path of austerity to acquire formidable powers and soon declares himself to be a god. His young son (Prahlad), however, remains devoted to Lord Vishnu and rises against his own father. He then remains a devotee despite numerous threats to his life. This leads to the emergence of Lord Vishnu's Narsimha avatar, who ultimately neutralises Hiranyakashipu and restores balance to the universe. Aditya Raj Sharma,Haripriya Matta, and Sanket Jaiswal have lent their voices to the Hindi version. Mahavatar Narshimha review and box office performance The film has received positive reviews from all corners. The Times of India gave it 3 stars out of 5 and called the film a 'grand visual odyssey'. 'As a first attempt, it lays the groundwork for a promising future in Indian animated mythological cinema. It's certainly worth experiencing in theatres—for both its pioneering effort and its visual ambition,' read a part of the review. The positive word-of-mouth has helped Mahavatar Narsimha do well at the box office. According to Sacnilk, a trade website, Mahavatar Narsimha has earned Rs 21.85 crore (nett) in India so far. This is an astonishing figure given the moderate budget of Rs 20 crore and its lack of star power.
Hindustan Times
16 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
Best Malayalam horror comedies to watch before Arjun Ashokan's Sumathi Valavu
Malayalam actor Arjun Ashokan's upcoming film, Sumathi Valavu, will hit the big screen on August 1. The horror comedy is said to be based on a chilling folktale about the infamous Sumathi Valavu in Kerala's Thiruvananthapuram district. We list the top horror comedies in Malayalam that you should see before Sumathi Valavu. You can stream these on OTTplay Premium as well. Posters of Pretham and Romancham Malayalam horror comedies on OTT Pretham Three friends who open a resort where they see paranormal activities are at the centre of this horror comedy. These events compel them to turn to mentalist John Don Bosco for help. They quickly discover that the resort is haunted by a ghost who is trying to find out why she died. The performances of Aju Varghese and Sharaf U Dheen in this movie have their own amusing moments. Romancham The film is based on actual events that occurred in Bangalore after seven roommates played Ouija board. All of the performers contribute plenty to the comedy portion of the film, making it one of the best horror entertainers in Malayalam in recent times. Actors Soubin Shahir, Siju Sunny, and Sajin Gopu, lead this film, along with Arjun Ashokan. Oru Murai Vanthu Paarthaya In this movie, a local wrestler named Prakashan meets a girl named Parvathy. Their lives converge once he lets her stay in his house. But Prakashan quickly learns that Parvathy is not human, which sets up a number of funny scenarios as he and his friends deal with this revelation. Pakalpooram Brahmadattan Namboothiri once battled an evil ghost in Sooryamagalam, the setting for this tale. The demonic being swore to kill his son in order to exact revenge on his family. Gauridasan, the youngest son of Brahmadattan, is tasked with taming the spirit years later and eventually develops feelings for Seemathini. But she is not who she seems to be, and the main focus of the film is the amusing fallout. Manthrikan Mukundan Unni spends his time in a secluded village with two friends because he is not particularly fond of his father's black magic abilities. He falls in love with Malu, a girl he meets there. A few years later, a wealthy family calls him to rid their home of a ghost. Malavika does not recognise him when he meets her again.
