Direct digital release: Price is the main hurdle!

Nani and Sudheer Babu’s ‘V’, Anushka starrer ‘Nishabdham’, and Sai Dharam Tej’s ‘Solo Brathuke So Better’ are the major films that have initiated discussions with OTT platforms. Some of these movies have reached the advanced stage of discussion as well. Still, no one is sure that either of these movies hit the OTT platform bypassing theatrical release. 

The reason is simple. If producers want to skip the theatrical release, they want to recoup of all its investments from OTT rights and satellite rights. Almost all these films had closed their satellite deals already. So, the remaining amount should come from the OTT deal only if they want to skip the theaters. The digital companies are rethinking about paying such a hefty amount. 

This is where the business deals have stuck. The roadblock is pricing.

If producers step down from their quoting price, the OTT firms may close the deal. But some producers are still not sure of skipping theatrical release.