Online streaming platforms have increased exponentially in the last 3-4 years on a worldwide scale. In India, more than 40 OTT platforms are currently active and are competing against each other to grab the top spot. As for Netflix, things are not going well for the number one streaming service in the world in this country. Why is it? Why is it struggling to acquire a big piece of market share in the nation? Is Netflix’s US version better than what the Indians have with them? Let’s find out!
Why Indians Do Not Like Netflix That Much?
Netflix is the only streaming platform that treasures more than 200 million subscribers globally. About 36-38% of those subscribers reside in the US. It shows that the streaming platform has expanded its roots successfully in almost every part of the world. Currently, more than 190 countries have access to Netflix. These gigantic figures are enough to describe its global supremacy.
Now, let’s look at this scenario from the perspective of Indians. Netflix debuted in the country in 2016. More than five years have passed since its launch. Yet, it is unable to establish itself as the number one streaming platform here.
Several obstacles are hindering the growth of Netflix in the Indian OTT market. First and foremost is its high subscription prices. At present times, the streaming platform is running with four subscription plans in the country.
- Mobile Plan (480p) – Rs. 199 per month (For mobiles and tablets)
- Basic Plan (480p) – Rs. 499 per month (All devices)
- Standard Plan (1080p) – Rs. 649 per month (All devices)
- Premium Plan (4K+HDR) – Rs. 799 per month (All devices)
The biggest problem with these plans is they are way too expensive for Indian viewers. Only those masses who are financially stable can afford them. That’s why an average Indian viewer doesn’t even consider purchasing them. And if we throw Disney+ Hotstar into this mess, things become more complex for Netflix.
The merging of Hotstar with Disney+ last year turned out to be a game-changer deal for Star India. Not only it provides seamless streaming of IPL matches and local shows, but it also entertains its viewers with quality Disney content. Furthermore, the recent cuts in its subscription charges have created quite a situation for Netflix.
As of this moment, Disney+ Hotstar provides three subscription plans to people. The premium plan charges Rs. 1499 per year from the viewers. In return, it bestows access to all the content available on the streaming platform with 4K resolution. The other two plans, Super and Mobile, have proved to be most triumphant in the Indian market.
Plus, other Indian streaming platforms are very cheap as compared to Netflix. Consequently, they have succeeded in luring more than half of the nation’s binge-watchers towards them.
Netflix India – Does it need to enlarge the number of its content?
Hell yes! The lack of top-notch content is also one of the biggest reasons for Netflix’s failure in India. The Indian version doesn’t even stand near Netflix US when it comes to dispatching exceptional movies and tv shows. How about taking the ongoing month of December as an example? The streaming service is ready to drop numerous Christmas gifts to American viewers. We have The Witcher Season 2, Emily in Paris Season 2, Don’t Look Up, Cobra Kai Season 4, The Lost Daughter, Queer Eye Season 6, Grumpy Christmas, 1000 Miles from Christmas, What Happened in Oslo, and many more on Netflix’s Santa sleigh this month.
What about Netflix India? It seems like the streaming platform has forgotten the existence of the Indian masses. Apart from Minnal Murali and Decoupled, it has absolutely nothing for the country’s viewers.
There is no doubt that the lack of nation’s local content is haunting Netflix right now. The executives cannot expect to expand their territory in India if they continue to ignore these cases. They have promised to deliver “originals” in regional languages soon. But God knows when they will arrive.
Netflix India vs Netflix US: Which one is better?
It’s Netflix US all the way! Who are we kidding? It accommodates more than 4500 movies and 1200 web series so far. Additionally, it consists of a handsome number of documentaries and other content. We cannot even imagine comparing the US version with Netflix India. This comparison feels more like an insult to the former.
Netflix India is heavily suffering from a serious deficiency of regional content. Just above 500 movies and nearly the same number of shows cannot aid in its survival in the country. Besides, the nation’s producers are scared to release their projects on the streaming platform because of its poor track record.
How can Netflix India improve its ongoing crisis?
Netflix India can start tackling this sensitive situation by reducing its subscription prices for Indian viewers. It charges approximately the same as its US version. Still, it doesn’t provide the same number of content to them. We know that age restriction and other OTT regulations in India make things hard for the streaming platform. But it is not fair for the Indian people to pay that much and tolerate a limited number of shows and movies.
India is now the second-largest internet market in the world. Moreover, various surveys have stated that its streaming market will reach up to $2.3 billion in 2023. And Netflix’s share is tiny here. Even platforms like Amazon Prime Video, Sony Liv, Zee5, and others are performing brilliantly. The time has come for the streaming service to step up or step aside in the Indian OTT market.