Will PPV finally kill Theaters ?

The recent release of Radhe on Zee 5 PPV has already started the debate in Bollywood regarding prospects of latest movie release as PPV.

As per the unconfirmed reports Radhe had 5M streams within 48 hours of its release. Doing simple math;

Zee had 2 options;

249 for just movie and 499 incl. Zee 5 1 year subscription.

Funnily more than 68% opted for 1 year subscription.

Zee 5 reportedly bought complete rights of movie including music, theatrical, satellite and OTT for 230 Cr.

Within 48 hours, it has made

499 X 0.68 X 50000000 = 169.66

249 x 0.32 X 50000000 = 39.84

209.5 Cr. in just 2 days

that too with shitty movie like Radhe.

This must be the best deal Zee ever made. The PPV model might even hamper other OTT platforms which already has hefty subscription charges like Netflix/Amazon Prime.

Soon other big movies like Sooryavanshi might follow the PPV model. If that happens what will be the fate of multiplexes, single screens. Why would anyone go to theaters to pay hefty price for popcorn/cola/samosa, which now you can buy it from your near house stalls for 1/4 price. You can enjoy movie in the comfort of your home along with as many friends as you like for just 1 price.

In mid 80s when VCR was gaining popularity in India, it was believed that it would kill single screen market. And it actually did to some extent. There were many VHS parlors. Maybe post QSQT, MPK, DDJ & HAHK which brought back audience to big screens.

Only reason people still go to theater is to experience the BIG SCREEN & SOUND along with comfort of munching while watching the movie with friends and family with no disturbance.

In 80s, screen and sound could never match the theater but today with large TVs & LED Projectors along with Home Theater Systems you can get same experience in the home with fraction of price which you pay in theater. So more and more people might opt for PPV model.

Plus we don't know how long will this pandemic last. How many more waves of Covid-19 will haunt us year after year. So the major section of affluent audience who can afford to pay heft price of tickets, food, parking, etc will surely shift to PPV. After all more richer you are more you value your life, more precautions you can afford to take. You don't have to slog day and night to get bread and butter. So these type of audience will definitely go for PPV.

Also more than 80% of middle class or below middle class audience will also go for PPV. Middle class mentality always finds a way to save money. When you have a chance to watch a movie for just one price irrespective of number of people watching it, which middle class person will miss that opportunity ?

Instead of going to theater, spending money on multiple tickets you have chance to buy just one ticket and whole family, friends can watch the movie at the comfort of your house. How much can you save upon travel, over priced junk foods, tickets, etc.

So now multiplex owners, single screen owners must think of way to circumvent this kind of scenario.

Post Radhe, more and more OTT platform might opt for PPV like Hot Star, Amazon Prime, etc. Its proved that PPV works for BIG stars event movies.

I am sure other big producers were also anticipating for what Radhe can do on this model

No theaters have magic so they will survive for many years

Originally posted by: sharmajikaladka

The recent release of Radhe on Zee 5 PPV has already started the debate in Bollywood regarding prospects of latest movie release as PPV.

As per the unconfirmed reports Radhe had 5M streams within 48 hours of its release. Doing simple math;

Zee had 2 options;

249 for just movie and 499 incl. Zee 5 1 year subscription.

Funnily more than 68% opted for 1 year subscription.

Zee 5 reportedly bought complete rights of movie including music, theatrical, satellite and OTT for 230 Cr.

Within 48 hours, it has made

499 X 0.68 X 50000000 = 169.66

249 x 0.32 X 50000000 = 39.84

209.5 Cr. in just 2 days

that too with shitty movie like Radhe.

This must be the best deal Zee ever made. The PPV model might even hamper other OTT platforms which already has hefty subscription charges like Netflix/Amazon Prime.

Soon other big movies like Sooryavanshi might follow the PPV model. If that happens what will be the fate of multiplexes, single screens. Why would anyone go to theaters to pay hefty price for popcorn/cola/samosa, which now you can buy it from your near house stalls for 1/4 price. You can enjoy movie in the comfort of your home along with as many friends as you like for just 1 price.

In mid 80s when VCR was gaining popularity in India, it was believed that it would kill single screen market. And it actually did to some extent. There were many VHS parlors. Maybe post QSQT, MPK, DDJ & HAHK which brought back audience to big screens.

Only reason people still go to theater is to experience the BIG SCREEN & SOUND along with comfort of munching while watching the movie with friends and family with no disturbance.

In 80s, screen and sound could never match the theater but today with large TVs & LED Projectors along with Home Theater Systems you can get same experience in the home with fraction of price which you pay in theater. So more and more people might opt for PPV model.

Plus we don't know how long will this pandemic last. How many more waves of Covid-19 will haunt us year after year. So the major section of affluent audience who can afford to pay heft price of tickets, food, parking, etc will surely shift to PPV. After all more richer you are more you value your life, more precautions you can afford to take. You don't have to slog day and night to get bread and butter. So these type of audience will definitely go for PPV.

Also more than 80% of middle class or below middle class audience will also go for PPV. Middle class mentality always finds a way to save money. When you have a chance to watch a movie for just one price irrespective of number of people watching it, which middle class person will miss that opportunity ?

Instead of going to theater, spending money on multiple tickets you have chance to buy just one ticket and whole family, friends can watch the movie at the comfort of your house. How much can you save upon travel, over priced junk foods, tickets, etc.

So now multiplex owners, single screen owners must think of way to circumvent this kind of scenario.

Post Radhe, more and more OTT platform might opt for PPV like Hot Star, Amazon Prime, etc. Its proved that PPV works for BIG stars event movies.

good write up. not only money time can be saved which is important. unlike the video cassette scenario you mentioned here people are also getting a chance to watch new movies and they immediately get opinion of a movie on social media.

theatres are going to struggle really really hard. dont know how are they going to tackle this situation. the single screens in the nineties got converted to auditoriums and garages and super markets. the multiplex is pretty different and had to be seen what they are going to do

cannot say for others but i am a cinema lover..for me nothing can ever create the magic of cinema

if i am interested in a movie..and if OTT costs me Rs 200 but cinema costs me Rs 600..i will still go to cinema..not to forget..ill also have popcorns and beverages worth an additional Rs 1000 but that will still be worth it for me..

and some movies are made for big screen..movies like bahubali..krish series..dhoom bang bang etc are tailor made for the big screen..exotic locations..action..dance..

cinemas will find their way back but for the coming 2-3 years they will find it tough..so may be this be a good temporaty alternative

Radhe just finished theatre , now it's PPV time.

5M is 50 lakhs not 5 crores. Am I right?

I doubt the veracity of 5 million people buying subscription/one time view when its free on torrent... The movie is pathetic...

Originally posted by: cougarTown

cannot say for others but i am a cinema lover..for me nothing can ever create the magic of cinema

if i am interested in a movie..and if OTT costs me Rs 200 but cinema costs me Rs 600..i will still go to cinema..not to forget..ill also have popcorns and beverages worth an additional Rs 1000 but that will still be worth it for me..

and some movies are made for big screen..movies like bahubali..krish series..dhoom bang bang etc are tailor made for the big screen..exotic locations..action..dance..

cinemas will find their way back but for the coming 2-3 years they will find it tough..so may be this be a good temporaty alternative

if the corona persist people may not be able to go to theatres. onscreen experience of big movie unless its 3d is a myth because many hollywood and other foreign films we have watched in our television and laptop and have enjoyed thoroughly.