
As Hollywood consolidates, India’s English OTT market faces a reset
Subscribe to enjoy similar stories. With Netflix recently striking a deal to stream all films produced by Sony Pictures Entertainment globally after their theatrical release—and potentially moving to acquire the massive Warner Bros library—the niche, urban, English-language OTT space in India is bracing for a significant shake-up. As global catalogues consolidate under fewer platforms, industry experts believe these international shifts will fundamentally alter consumer choices in India, forcing rivals like Prime Video and JioHotstar to rethink their strategies for targeting up-market, premium users.
The clustering of global libraries reduces friction for consumers who are tired of navigating multiple subscriptions. While Netflix moves toward a dominant position, Prime Video is fighting back with an "add-on" strategy. It recently onboarded Moviesphere+, a subscription-based platform from Lionsgate that offers heavyweights like The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, Mad Men, Borderlands, P.S. I Love You, The Princess Bride, and Jackie Brown.
“English OTT content has demand, but the Indian market doesn’t yet have a single, unified leader in that niche. Netflix is the closest, but it shares space with Prime Video, HBO (via Discovery and Warner ties that currently stream on JioHotstar) and others like MUBI," said Charu Malhotra, co-founder and managing director, Primus Partners, a management consultancy firm. “Many consumers pick and mix based on price, a few must-watch shows or trial periods.
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