The Show Will Go On

As entertainment reaches an inflection point with OTT platforms, the future promises to be a joyride for people seeking quality content and immersive experiences.

- Kunal Purandare

Acclaimed filmmaker Steven Spielberg created a flutter earlier this year when he suggested that films streamed on online platforms like Netflix should be barred from Oscar nominations. A showdown was averted after the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences said it won’t change eligibility rules and Spielberg clarified his stand. “I want people to find their entertainment in any form or fashion that suits them… However, I want the theatrical experience to remain relevant in our culture,” said the three-time Academy Award winner.

The trepidation that Spielberg— maker of critically successful films like Jurassic Park, Saving Private Ryan and Schindler’s List—and probably some other directors may be experiencing is understandable. The entertainment landscape has changed drastically over the years. From single-television screens and cable TV to multiplexes and now an avalanche of over-the-top (OTT) platforms, consuming content has become easier. The future holds even greater promise when one considers that the market for OTT content in India will reach $5 billion by 2023, from $0.5 billion in 2018, according to a November 2018 report by global management consulting firm Boston Consulting Group.