OTT Platforms: The Best Services To Stream Films And Shows In India

As OTT platforms are getting more and more popular in India, we have compiled a post where we will introduce to you the best platforms currently available for Indian users. For those who are not familiar with the term, we will also help you understand what an OTT platform is.

What is OTT platform? What OTT platform means

Short for over-the-top, OTT media service is essentially a streaming media service that viewers use through the internet. OTT platforms are better than broadcast, cable, as well as satellite television platforms that distribute content through channels. Especially, in 2020, with the COVID-19 pandemic, OTT platforms have become much more widely used than ever. Now, filmmakers are releasing movies on OTT platforms rather than the cinema.

OTT platform in India

Amazon Prime Video

This is one of the most popular OTT platforms in India, whose OTT platform providers are Amazon. The company launched Amazon Prime Video in 2016, which now supports English and six Indian regional languages. Amazon also introduced Amazon Prime Music in India in early 2018. The platform offers the latest films and award-winning content produced by Amazon at a price of Rs 999 per year or Rs 129 per month. The subscription also includes free music.

Netflix

The next big name on the OTT platform list in India is a widely used streaming service for not only Indian users but also people around the world. Netflix subscribers can choose Basic, or Standard HD, or Premium Ultra HD plans. The monthly cost of the first plan is Rs 500, the second is Rs 650, and the last plan is Rs 800.

In the Indian market, Netflix faces intense competition from rivals like Hotstar, Amazon Prime, Eros Now, and Voot, all of which come at a lower subscription charge.

Disney+ Hotstar

Owned by Novi Digital Entertainment, this is a leading streaming service for Indian users. Those to subscribe to this service have two options, including a VIP plan that offers domestic programs and sports content as well as a Premium plan that includes international films and TV series.

In July 2020, the annual cost of the VIP Plan reached Rs 399 while that of the Premium Plan was Rs 1,499. If you want to pay monthly, the cost for the Premium plan is Rs 299. As of March this year, there were at least 300 million active users on Disney+ Hotstar.

Voot

Launched in 2016, this is an Indian SVOD (subscription video on demand) service with an online arm called Viacom 18. You can download the app from the app stores of Android, iOS, and KaiOS or use the service on a desktop device. The monthly cost of Voot Select is Rs 99 and you can get a free trial for three days while the yearly cost is Rs 499 with a free trial for 14 days.

Voot is exclusively available in India, offering a total of more than 40,000 hours of content, including shows from various channels like Colors, Nickelodeon, and MTV. You can watch OTT platform movies on this service in multiple regional languages including Tamil, Telugu, Gujarati, Bengali, Marathi, and Kannada. There are a lot of Bollywood movies for you to stream along with a number of Voot Original shows.

Voot Select was launched in February 2020 while Voot Original series are available for paid subscribers only.

ZEE5

The next name to be mentioned on the list of OTT platforms is ZEE5, a service owned by Essel Group and run through Zee Entertainment Enterprises. The service came out in February 2018 with support for 12 languages.

Recently, ZEE5 announced to launch ZEE5 Club with an annual cost of Rs 365, which will let users exclusively access most popular shows before they are broadcasted on TV, in addition to select Alt Balaji and ZEE5 shows, -100+ blockbuster movies, more than 90+ Live TV Channels, and ZEE Zindagi shows.

Subscribers of ZEE5 Club can enjoy entertainment content without ads on whatever device they use. ZEE5 Club offers a lot of shows before telecasts such as Sembaruthi in Tamil, Kumum Bhagya and Kundali Bhagya in Hindi, and more.

Sony LIV

This is an Indian entertainment, video-on-demand platform offered by Sony Pictures Networks India. Sony Liv includes 18 years of content Sony’s Indian branch, including channels like Sony SAB, Sony TV, Sony Mã, Sony Ten, Sony PIX, Sony MAX 2, and Sony Six.

This is also the first over-the-top media service platform in India to make music for a Hollywood feature movie. It produces music for the Hindi version of the blockbuster film Passenger starring Jennifer Lawrence and Chris Patt.

MX Player

MX Player has more than 280 million users across the globe. Currently, it operates as an ad-supported platform with more than 150,000 hours of content in 12 languages. You can download its app from the Google Play Store, App Store, or stream content on the web. MX Player offers an online Feature that’s free for all users.

After an acquisition in 2018 for $140 million, MX Player ứa relaunched in February 2019 as an OTT platform. It now offers licensed content from a lot of studios in India and around the world including Sonar Entertainment, FilmRise, Goldmine, Screen Media Films, Paramount Pictures, Sony Entertainment, and Shemaroo.

ALT Balaji

This service is offered in 32 different interfaces for users and its content can be streamed on mobile devices. Its website claimed to have the biggest content library in India. Users of this platform can view content in various categories like comedy, drama, thriller, romance, mystery, and crime. ALT Balaji also offers over 100 hours of children's content and urban regional shows in Hindi, Bengali, Punjabi, Marathi, Tamil, among other languages. You can choose one of the following membership plans: Rs 100 for 3 months, Rs 180 for 6 months, and Rs 300 for 12 months.

Eros Now

Launched in 2012, this service can be used via Internet-connected screens including tablets, phones, TV, and the web. It offers blockbuster movies such as Happy Bhag Jayegi, Cheeni Kum, Bajirao Savdhan, Manmarziyaan, Tanu Weds Manu Returns, and Rockstar, among many other titles. The monthly subscription cost for Eros Now is Rs 99 and the yearly cost is Rs 399 for one device.

Arre

The last name to mention on the list of OTT platforms in India is a service based in Mumbai. Arre produces and releases videos, web series, audio series, text, doodles, and documentaries via its online channel. The platform was launched in 2016.

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