In a significant development for the film industry, South cinema exhibitors held a meeting today and passed two major resolutions aimed at strengthening the theatrical ecosystem. The exhibitors collectively agreed that every film across India must strictly follow an 8-week OTT release window, ensuring movies remain exclusive to theatres for at least two months before arriving on streaming platforms.
Another important decision taken during the meeting was the scrapping of the traditional rental system followed by theatres. Instead, exhibitors announced plans to shift to a percentage-based revenue sharing model, where theatres and producers will share box office earnings. The exact percentage structure is expected to be finalized soon.
This move is seen as an effort to protect theatres and revive the theatrical experience, especially for single-screen cinemas, which have been struggling in recent years. However, it remains to be seen how OTT platforms and film producers will respond to these resolutions, as the decisions could significantly impact film distribution strategies across the country.
Industry insiders believe the outcome of these resolutions could reshape the release pattern of films in India. With exhibitors pushing for stronger theatre-first policies, the coming weeks will reveal whether producers and OTT platforms are willing to align with the new rules proposed by South cinema exhibitors.
