Second wave and second OTT boom!

India is gripped with the second wave of coronavirus cases. The number of cases is growing each passing day, the death toll is also on the rise.

In North India, families of the patients are running from pillar to post to get oxygen cylinders and medicines. Though the situation is not that grave in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, the cases are multiplying.

The central government woke up to the situation very late and analysts say the severity of the second wave will continue for another two to three months.

So, we should forget about the theatrical releases for another couple of months. A death knell for the ailing exhibitor sector!

No wonder that OTT companies are betting high on this current season and lining up new movies for streaming, and buying upcoming releases. Amazon Prime, Netflix, Aha, Hotstar, and other OTT platforms are set to buy movies again.

They are expecting a second boom for the OTT companies.

Producers are also hoping to get good money. Venkatesh’s “Drushyam 2” seems to have already decided to have a direct digital release. The film’s shooting has been wrapped up. Amazon Prime which released the original Malayalam is said to be buying the Telugu version as well.

Zee Group is in talks with the makers of Sai Tej’s “Republic” for hybrid release: same-day release in theaters and pay-per-view online screening.

Some other medium-range and small-budgeted films are rethinking their release plans. But heroes like Nani, Naga Chaitanya, and Ravi Teja, whose films are up for release, are dead against this idea.

So, it is too early to think about the second boom for OTT. Greatandhra