The Karnataka government has announced plans to launch a state-run OTT platform dedicated to promoting Kannada films. A panel has been formed to oversee the initiative, with the goal of preparing detailed project outlines, conducting a comprehensive study, and recommending the necessary grants to move the project forward.
The announcement follows Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s 2025-26 budget speech, where he promised steps toward creating an OTT space to strengthen the Kannada film industry. According to a press statement from the Department of Information and Public Relations, the Commissioner of the department will chair the panel.
The committee includes key figures from Karnataka’s film ecosystem: Mehboob Pasha (Chairman, Kanteerava Studio Ltd.), Sadhu Kokila (President, Karnataka Film Academy), producers K P Srikanth and Rockline Venkatesh, actor Duniya Vijay, and members from the Karnataka Chalanachitra Academy (KCA).
But, they aren’t the only state to do so.
Who are the first?
Kerala.
And this move mirrors Kerala’s initiative, where the government-backed CSpace was launched in 2024. Operated by the Kerala State Film Development Corporation, CSpace promotes Malayalam films with artistic and cultural value, running on a pay-per-view model where 50% of revenue is shared with filmmakers.
For Karnataka, the proposed platform could serve multiple purposes: giving filmmakers an alternative distribution channel, ensuring smaller-budget films reach wider audiences, and creating a digital archive of Kannada cinema.
As streaming continues to dominate entertainment consumption, the Karnataka government’s intervention marks an important step in safeguarding regional content and providing visibility to local talent in the crowded OTT marketplace.
If executed well, the platform could emerge as a vital cultural hub for Kannada cinema, just as CSpace has begun to do for Malayalam films.