CSpace OTT App: Good News for Movie Lovers… A Government-Owned OTT is Coming… Here are the Benefits!

The era of OTT (Over The Top) platforms is thriving globally, including in India, replacing theaters as the primary venue for entertainment. Small films, excluding those with big stars, are now being released directly on OTT platforms. Currently, OTT platforms like Amazon Prime, Netflix, Disney+ Hotstar, SonyLIV, ETV Win, Voot, and Aha are the popular OTT providers in Indai and they release new movies and web series regularly. Against this backdrop, the Kerala government has taken a novel decision. It is ready to launch its own OTT app. The Kerala government announced that this app would be launched on March 7.

The Reason Behind the OTT Setup!

Malayalam films enjoy good popularity in India. Mollywood is known for producing content-rich stories. Dubbed films from Malayalam to Telugu are already winning audience approval, with some even watching Mollywood movies with subtitles. Noticing this, the Kerala government decided to launch new OTT app called CSpace to movie lovers, promising entertainment along with information.

With 60 Employees…

Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan will launch the CSpace app today at 9:30 AM at the Kairali Theatre. The State’s Culture Minister Saji Cherian will also attend the launch event. This app, overseen by the Kerala State Film Development Corporation (KSFDC), aims to address challenges in the OTT sector. KSFDC Chairman Shaji N Karun mentioned that 60 staff members with a cultural background have been selected to work on this app.

A Special Panel Set Up!

KSFDC has formed a special panel to decide on the type of content that should be made available on the CSpace OTT. This panel includes seniors like Benyamin, O.V. Usha, Santosh Sivan, Shyamaprasad, Sunny Joseph, and Geo Baby. They will oversee the activities of CSpace, ensuring only quality content streams on the app. As part of the first phase of the launch, 35 movies, 6 documentaries, and one short film have been selected for streaming, as shared by KSFDC Director Karun.

How Does CSpace Work?

CSpace will operate on a ‘Pay Per View’ scheme rather than monthly or annual subscriptions. Each movie viewing will cost ₹75, with the revenue being distributed to the filmmakers by the CSpace panel. For shorter content, there will be an option to watch at half the price. Currently, no exclusive movies are available on the app, but efforts are underway to include such content, according to KSFDC Director Karun.

Who Benefits from CSpace?

Many producers in Kerala are releasing their movies directly on OTT platforms, which has been a concern for exhibitors and industry stakeholders. However, CSpace aims to address this issue by only releasing movies that have been shown in theaters. This platform also offers a new avenue for emerging directors facing difficulties securing theater releases. It suggests crowdfunding as a potential revenue model, with part of the OTT profits being used to support unemployed professionals in the film industry, as clarified by KSFDC Director Karun.