Netflix, Amazon Prime and Hotstar in Trouble over Content?

Viewers who enjoy watching web series like ‘Sacred Games’ and ‘Gandi Baat’ may not like the latest development that is expected to take place soon. The Bombay High Court has issued a notice to the Centre to set up a pre-screening board to curb nudity, violence, abusive and sexual content, according to media reports. The court has also directed the information and broadcasting ministry to commence the required steps to curb the latest trend supported by the likes of Netflix and other mobile entertainment platforms.

The court was responding to a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by a city lawyer Divya Gontiya which said “The screening of pornographic contents, vulgar gestures and talks are overriding the Indian culture and morality.” The Court now wants the pre-screening committee that would be set up to look out for crudity, nudity, sexual or abusive language, vulgarity, sex apart from monitoring advertisements as well before the web series content goes online.

“If the websites are found violating provisions of Cinematograph Act, Indecent Representation of Women Prohibition Act 1986 and other similar Acts, then act tough against the guilty,” the high court directed the concerned ministries in the notices,” said the Court as per a report on the Hindustan Times.

Digital and mobile entertainment platforms like Netflix, Amazon Prime and Hotstar are extremely popular among Indian audiences. India, in 4 years, could occupy a spot in the top ten over-the-top video markets in the world, according to a study from global accounting firm PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC).The report titled Global Entertainment & Media Outlook 2018-2022 states that India’s over-the-top media market is growing at a CAGR of 23 percent and could most likely reach Rs 5,600 crore in revenues by 2022.

While global giants like Netflix and Amazon Prime Video are already quite popular in the OTT market, new and local entrants like ALTBalaji, Hotstar, SonyLive, and Zee5 have now begun to catch on. The OTT video revenue stood at Rs 2019 crore in 2017 and is increasing steadily with the passage of time.