The Weakening Satellite Market for Movies and the Impact on Channel Ratings: Insights from the Malayalam Film Industry

# Priyesh Chandran 02 September 2023, 09:01 AM IST Iconic Image | Photo:

O.TT The satellite market for movies has weakened significantly as the platforms have become stronger. Of the 225 films released between January 2022 and August 2023, less than 50 percent of the films were sold with satellite rights. 11 satellite channels in Malayalam, including three movie channels, mainly telecast movies. Earlier, films made at a cost of three to four crores were getting the same amount through satellite rights. Earlier there was a situation where the successful films got an average of up to eight crores. But now even the successful ones are limited to an average of 3 crores. Those in the field point out that the main problem is that films do not get channel ratings like they used to.

There is no gain even during Onam

Channels in Kerala telecast more movies during Onam. During this Onak, i.e. from August 26 to 31, ten major channels in Malayalam aired 231 movies. This will also include subtitled images. But only 13 of them are new.

All others have aired at least once before. But ten years ago when there were not so many channels, up to 30 new films have been aired during Onam.

Willing to get together

All major Malayalam channels have their own digital platforms. So while buying new films, channels are more interested in buying satellite and digital rights together, say people related to the channel cinema purchasing department. Only then will the channels be able to upload their films on digital platforms as well. OTT like Amazon and Netflix Companies have reduced the purchase of films on platforms only for channel airing. Previously, digital rights were shared by multiple companies. But now the market is for exclusive rights. And since people still love to watch old movies, channels are also trying to renew the satellite rights of such movies.

But the satellite market

Satellite rights are paid to producers to telecast movies on channels. A movie bought exclusively by a channel cannot be aired by another channel without their permission. In the meantime there was competition between channels to buy movies. This has created huge potential for satellite business.

2023-09-02 03:31:43
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