Aamir Khan’s Sitaare Zameen Par will release on YouTube from August 1 under a pay-per-view model at Rs 100. This announcement comes after the superstar criticised 8-week-window model
Aamir Khan
Aamir Khan, on Tuesday, announced that his film Sitaare Zameen Par will be made available on YouTube after a successful theatrical run. Khan had become the first one to refuse taking up the four-week theatrical run followed by OTT release pattern. He stood firm on the film being available to the audience only in the theatres. While there was buzz about the film being available on YouTube after theatrical run, Khan had denied the same. Now, the actor has apologised for lying while announcing the streaming release of the film.
Sitaare Zameen Par to be on YouTube soon
Aamir Khan, the lead and producer of Sitaare Zameen Par announced that the film will be available to all from August 1 on pay-per-view model. Which means that the audience can watch the film by paying Rs 100.
At the event, Khan also apologised for lying earlier about the film's future on YouTube. Firstly, I apologize for lying to everyone who had asked me about my film releasing on YouTube. At that time, I couldn't reveal anything. I’ve always been loyal to theatres, and it has always been my attempt to protect the theatrical business."
He added, "So, when we decided to experiment with a new model for the first time, I wanted to ensure the theatrical ecosystem remained intact. That’s why I had to lie to a few people who asked about it and say it wouldn’t come to YouTube. I had to lie otherwise, my dream would have ended right there."
Pay-per-view vs subscription
Khan further stressed that there is a difference between the pay-per-view model and subscription model of OTT platforms. "There’s a huge difference between the pay-per-view model and the subscription model. In the subscription model, the user is not buying my film specifically; they’re paying for an entire content roster on the platform. As a creator, I’m willing to take a thousand steps for my audience but I wish my audience would take just one step for the film. The pay-per-view model mirrors the theatrical experience, and going forward, this model will continue on YouTube," he said.
When Khan criticised the 8-week model
At the WAVES summit in May this year, Khan had criticized the eight-week window that is the norm for theatrical ad OTT release gap. He had said, "I just feel that, you see, earlier films would come in theatres and then a year later on satellite. Then it became 8 months and then 6 months. So, what happens is, I have choice as an audience to watch in the theatre as it releases or I can wait 6 months and watch it on satellite.”
He said that as people have already paid for their subscriptions for OTT, they choose to watch it when it is released there rather than spending more by going to theatres. He said, “So, if I have to be very honest with my audience when I'm marketing my film I have to tell my audience that my film is releasing but all those people who are on this particular subscription, they've already bought my film. They don't need to come to the theatres. So, according to me that window is too small between theatrical and OTT. You are killing your own business. It’s a faulty business model.”
Now, Aamir Khan's Sitaare Zameen Par is available on YouTube after a six-week window post theatrical release.
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