Over-The-Top media platforms are the latest global trend and India is not far behind. Gone are the days when we had to wait for the clock to strike before our favorite shows came on the TV (Most of the time the jingles told the time for us 90’s kids). You can now binge-watch your favorite shows whenever you like, wherever you like, as long as you have an internet connection and a smart device! We have brought together a list of such platforms that offer the best variety of regional content so that you can binge-watch as you please.
However, one thing that keeps boggling our minds is the subscription fee for the OTT platforms. More often than not we are found pondering if it’s going to be wise to spend so much on these platforms. No access to the hot Bigg Boss episodes in 2020? Well, with some of the best offers on Amazon Prime Videos, Voot, Zee5, etc, you can stream your favorite tv shows and movies without any hassle. This sorts your finance and our list will save you from hours of hunting for the best OTT subscription.
Top 10 OTT Platforms For Best Regional Entertainment
1. Netflix
It’s almost surprising how fast Netflix has become the go-to choice for an OTT platform for Indian young stars or maybe not- considering that Netflix pretty much dominates the global OTT platform market. But it is definitely one of the major players that first started the discussion on online streaming services. Netflix has, hands down, some of the best original productions (Netflix Originals as woke people would know), be it movies or series. Sacred Games took all of us by a storm- who would have imagined there would be regional shows to compare with Narcos or House of Cards?! But what India really loves Netflix for is its collection of movies and its convenient streaming as latest data suggests- Kabir Singh was, in fact, one of the top three popular titles in 2019. With pocket-friendly subscription plans that start with a nifty Rs 199 per month for the mobile-app only plan, Netflix has already learned how to keep Indian viewers keep coming back for more.
2. Hotstar
A major player in the Indian market, Hotstar is the preferred choice for sports lovers in India, not to mention that it is the official partner for screening Game of Thrones in India, airing only hours after HBO (you now know where to watch GoT legally if you haven’t watched the seasons already). The online streaming service is offered by Star Network and offers a plethora of regional movies and iconic shows like Sarabhai vs Sarabhai! But what Hotstar is really popular for is its sports shows like the IPL or English Premier League. While they offer affordable subscriptions ranging from Rs.199 for a month to Rs.999 for a year, Jio and Airtel users can watch Indian cricket and football matches for free, with the exception of English content which can only be viewed with premium subscriptions.
3. Voot
The brainchild of what is hailed to be one of India’s largest growing media networks, Viacom18, Voot is another online streaming service people can’t stop talking about. An excellent range of content preferences, Voot offers over 70,000 hours of content that includes some of the most popular TV shows, movies and of course, Voot Originals. The focus here is on bringing fresh contemporary content to the plate without any premium subscription charges and such emphasis on originality is what has successfully brought about 100 million monthly active users on board who spend a daily average of 50 minutes on the platform.
4. ALTBalaji
A subsidiary of the dominant player in Indian TV market Balaji Telefilms, ALTBalaji is a major regional player when it comes to online streaming services in India. With one of the largest media libraries, this platform offers a massive range of Indian regional content in both movies and shows. An ad-free subscription-based service, ALT Balaji offers some of the cheapest pricing options and a diverse range of original regional content in languages like Tamil, Gujarati, Telugu, and Marathi as well as stand-up comedy shows. ALT Balaji has been focused on original regional content from its very inception and making good on its claims of diversifying regional genres.
5. Amazon Prime
Amazon Prime video services are one of the biggest OTT players in the Indian market that came on the heels of Netflix. The subscription ranging from Rs 129 a month to Rs 999 a year, Amazon Prime in India is said to have the highest number of Prime users among the 16 countries it has debuted in. Like Netflix, despite the availability of great English content, Indian Prime users actually spend more time viewing regional content-almost 93 per cent of them, according to official records. Besides Primes Original TV shows, it hosts a large number of Hindi and other regional movies.
6. ZEE5
Another popular OTT service provider in India is ZEE5, launched by the Zee Entertainment Enterprises Limited-offering video content in categories like TV shows, Music and lifestyle in 12 regional languages that include Hindi, Bengali, Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Marathi, Odia, and Gujarati. With both hours of catch-up content and original shows, ZEE5 has made sure you are never running out of options. Just to seal the deal, ZEE5 also offers a collection of premium TV shows from all over the world including Korean and Spanish dramas. With pocket-friendly subscription plans and content that are both regional and global, ZEE5 is poised to truly take over the market!
7. Hoichoi
Hoichoi, true to its name, has created quite the noise in recent times with its debut as the first-ever OTT platform exclusively focusing on Bengali content. It’s parent company SVF happens to be one of the largest production houses in Tollywood and with that working in favor, Hoichoi boasts of a library that includes national award-winning Bengali movies, not to mention original titles and short films.
8. Sun Nxt
Another truly regional platform that has caused quite a stir in the market is Southern platform Sun Nxt that focuses on the content exclusively for the four regional languages of Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, and Malayalam. A subscription-based service like its contemporaries, Sun Nxt offers large number of movies and live streaming of TV channels.
The challenge when it comes to Indian consumers is to rightly cater to regional markets and these apps listed above are doing the job well. Multiple data surveys attest to the affinity of Indian audiences towards regional content, even on Youtube. Taking note of such a demand, not only existing platforms are diversifying their content libraries but also redirecting their focus to bringing up better regional content, which only means good things for us viewers. So, without further ado, go ahead and subscribe to one of these OTT platforms and treat yourself with some awesome shows and movies.
Author Bio:
Jaya Dwivedi: An impulsive backpacker, a storyteller, and an unsophisticated foodie, Jaya loves exploring new destinations and cuisines. She’s a Content Writer by the day, foodie by the night.
