Kerala Launches India’s First State-Run OTT Platform ‘CSpace’

March 7, 2024

On March 7, 2024, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan launched India’s first state-run over-the-top (OTT) platform named ‘CSpace’ in Thiruvananthapuram. The platform, managed by the Kerala State Film Development Corporation (KSFDC), aims to showcase award-winning films, short films, documentaries, and other content that have not received wide theatrical releases but possess significant artistic and cultural merit.

Curator Panel and Content Selection

To ensure the quality of content on CSpace, the KSFDC has appointed a curator panel consisting of 60 eminent experts. Each piece of content submitted to the platform will be evaluated by a panel of three members, who will decide whether it is artistically worthy of being screened. The panel includes renowned cultural personalities such as Benyamin, OV Usha, Santhosh Sivan, Shyamaprasad, Sunny Joseph, and Jeo Baby.

Initial Offerings

In its first phase, CSpace will feature 42 films, including 35 feature films, six documentaries, and one short film. The platform will be available for download on both Android and iOS devices.

Pay-Per-View Model and Revenue Sharing

CSpace will operate on a pay-per-view basis, with users required to pay Rs. 75 to watch a film and a lesser amount for short films. Half of the revenue generated from a piece of content will be shared with its creator. KSFDC will bear approximately 50% of the cost to ensure the technical aspects of the films, rental costs, quality upgrades, and website maintenance.

Objectives and Impact

KSFDC chairman and renowned filmmaker Shaji N Karun stated that CSpace is a parallel cultural move aimed at improving the quality of the audience and helping change their behavior patterns. The platform seeks to provide a global viewership for the diverse and unique films made in Malayalam that deserve recognition.

CSpace is being launched to address the growing imbalances and multifarious challenges in the OTT sector, particularly in terms of content selection and propagation. An official statement noted that CSpace aims to deliver a unique blend of informative and entertaining content tailored for the masses, setting it apart from other OTT platforms.

Known for realistic storytelling and content-driven scripts, Malayalam films led by its new-age actors and technicians is expected to transcend language barriers and cultivate new fans with this new initiative. Launch of the platform will address a major concern of the exhibitors and distributors of the film industry regarding their dwindling profits due to producers releasing the films directly on other commercial OTT platforms.

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