OTT Platforms—- Game Changer For Media Industry

The cinema has changed a great deal. Even as when these lines are being put together, the sector is witnessing a great change somewhere. In the cinema sector, the Over the Top (OTT) platforms are witnessing a sea change with regard to the content delivery to the varied sections of society even as the same has been made possible by the ever-changing technology as well as the communication spheres which itself are undergoing huge transformations. While there was a great impact of the easy internet access on the OTT sector which then kept on expanding and improving the user experience across the country, the emergence of the 5G technology in the country is for sure going to bring about a tremendous change because the 5G roll out in the country is currently on the right track with the same being on the final stages of development, suggesting that the launch of the 5G might happen by the end of this year. It has not only been the technology, rather there has been a great change in the delivery and the nature of the content as well. Imagine a movie being made on a controversial topic, a few decades ago, the same would not have been possible because of the censor board, even though the censor board exists today, its role has been greatly limited and focused on the traditional cinema. But the emerging scenario projects as if the space of the traditional cinema is being occupied by the content provided on the OTT platforms because only that remains in the focus of the mainstream. At the same time, the emergence of the OTT has also impacted the basic life values and ethics; however, this part is somehow debatable, dormant under the economic influence of the same. With the OTT market being under the control of the giants in the sector, they have all the powers to transform societies, economies, and that is what brings us to Kashmir which has got immense facilities to offer and would be apt and suitable for the production of the content which is then delivered on the OTT platforms. Kashmir Valley has scenic beauty to offer to the makers of a wide range of movies and web series and the same could be tapped by the Government by roping in the makers of the content for the OTT platforms. The same might not stop with the making of new content, but rather, the options of pursuing the makers of the super hit and much talked web series to shoot a few of their episodes in Kashmir. The stepping of the sector will not only highlight the scenic beauty of Kashmir, but the same will also impact heavily on the unemployment turf. Some time ago, a director happened to suggest that let the directors, and producers come to Kashmir, but make them use the local resources only—be it manpower, machinery or logistic support. If that is done, with a push of OTT at the back, there is no stopping from Kashmir being pushed along with a magnetic wave of change and transformation.