Updated: November 11, 2020 8:20:04 pm
This file photo shows a Netflix logo on a remote control (AP Photo / Jenny Kane, File)
The government has brought over-the-top (OTT) video streaming platforms like Netflix, Amazon’s Prime Video, Hotstar, and others under the scope of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. Until now, these platforms were under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology.
With a market size of almost Rs 500 crore at the end of March 2019, online video streaming platforms may turn into a revenue market of Rs 4000 crore by the end of 2025, according to reports. At the end of 2019, India had up to 17 million OTT platform users.
What are OTT platforms?
OTT, or over-the-top platforms, are audio and video streaming and hosting services that started out as content hosting platforms but soon branched out into the production and release of short films, feature films, documentaries, and web series.
These platforms offer a variety of content and use artificial intelligence to suggest to users the content they are likely to see based on their previous audience on the platform. Most OTT platforms generally offer some content for free and charge a monthly subscription fee for premium content that is generally not available elsewhere.
Premium content is generally produced and marketed by the OTT platform itself, in association with established production companies that have historically made feature films.
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What are the laws that regulate OTT platforms?
So far in India, there are no laws or rules regulating OTT platforms as it is a relatively new entertainment medium. Unlike television, print or radio, which follow guidelines published by governments, OTT platforms, classified as digital media or social media, had little or no regulation on the choice of content they offered, fees for subscription, certification of adult films and others.
In India, the regulation of such platforms has been widely debated and discussed. Following pressure to regulate the content available on these streaming platforms, the Internet and Mobile Association of India (IAMAI), a representative body for OTT platforms, proposed a self-regulatory model.
Online Curated Content Providers or OCCPs had also proposed a Digital Curated Content Complaints Council along with the self-regulatory mechanism as part of their proposed two-tier structure. However, the proposal was rejected by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, which will now oversee these platforms. 📣 Express Explained is now on Telegram
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What about OTT platforms now?
With the government’s decision to bring films and audiovisual programs made available by online content providers ”, as well as“ news and current affairs content on online platforms ”, the first challenge for OTT platforms would be to control their content.
The central government’s decision to carry the OTT Platforms under the Ministry of I&B could also mean that these platforms would have to apply for certification and approval of the content they want to stream. This in itself could lead to many conflicts, as most OTT The platforms have content that might otherwise be censored by the Indian certification boards.
OTT platforms are likely to resist any plans to censor the content they provide and broadcast, as these platforms have often chosen to produce films and documentaries on politically sensitive but relevant topics. It will also be necessary to see what guidelines, if any, establishes the ministry of I&B to regulate these OTT platforms.
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