Gone are the days when only Amazon Prime Video and Netflix were in contention to bag mainstream Telugu biggies. In fact, Amazon Prime was always much ahead of its competitors as far as the Telugu OTT market was concerned as the OTT giant made it a habit to snap up every other Telugu A-lister project. But the paradigm has shifted now. Disney+ Hotstar and ZEE5 are now gearing up to give Amazon and Netflix a run for their money.
ZEE5 has already bagged the digital streaming rights of RRR (south Indian languages), Radhe Shyam (south Indian languages, and RC15 (all languages). These are three of the most anticipated Telugu films that are due for theatrical release. These biggies have the potential to boost ZEE5’s prospects big time.
All of a sudden, Disney+ Hotstar too has started to up the ante when it comes to their content acquisition model. Buoyed by the super success of Balakrishna’s Akhanda, the top OTT platform is said to have landed a couple of other big-ticket films like Bheemla Nayak and Vijay Deverakonda’s Liger. Official announcements pertaining to the same are awaited though. But if Disney+ Hotstar has indeed acquired the digital streaming rights of these films, it could come a long way in enhancing their reach in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.
Well, Disney+ Hotstar and ZEE5 appear to have finally decided to enter the big league and the fact that the two OTT giants are acquiring almost every notable forthcoming Telugu biggie proves the same. The onus is now on Amazon Prime Video and Netflix to up the ante.