OTT, simply stands for over-the-top. This platform has made the world of entertainment small. A few decades back having a television at home was a privilege, not all enjoyed. Everyone gathered around the idiot box for their daily dose of entertainment and news. The antenna had to be set right if one wanted to watch TV uninterrupted. Then came the VCR – Video Cassette Recorder. One would rent a video cassette to watch a movie at home. Oh! what joy it brought to the kids and ladies, as going to a movie theatre was rare then.
As time passed the world was introduced to a machine called computer, and with that the internet came into existence. The internet is one of the greatest inventions of mankind and it has made the world a small place. Any information required is just a click away. Today’s world would be handicapped if there is no internet. We basically live out of air, water, food and internet.
The dreaded Coronavirus brought the world to a standstill in the year 2020. One of the most affected, was the entertainment industry. The OTT platforms that were already existing gained popularity. People were hooked to the various OTT platforms like Netflix, Amazon Prime, etc. to watch movies, series, news and sports.
Let’s dig deeper. Is it enough to just have internet and smart tv for OTT streaming? The answer is yes and no. One can stream movie, news, series, etc. through paid subscription, however many platforms run advertisements as a method for monetisation.
Let us now count list the advantages and disadvantages of OTT platform. Easy access to any content, also means no censorship. Anyone can watch anything at any time. The cost of going to a movie theatre (read tickets and popcorn) is drastically reduced, but at the same time there is a fear of addiction. One becomes lazy to step out of the house. Online security is a set back for OTT platforms, as the user’s credentials are shared during subscription. Having a great internet connection is a must to watch content on OTT.
OTT platforms are great, but a sense of responsibility towards oneself is very important to enjoy the entertainment without falling prey to it