One of the most eagerly awaited Kannada films on OTT is Kiccha Sudeep’s Max, which had long been speculated to debut on a prominent platform by the end of January. However, rather than an announcement regarding its OTT release, a promotional teaser for its television premiere was unveiled, although no specific date was provided. This development occurred just days after a similar promo was released for Upendra’s UI. The question arises as to why both films are opting for a satellite premiere first, a query that has yet to receive any clarification from the filmmakers or the streaming platform, despite ongoing inquiries from fans.

Is the OTT release of UI postponed? Announcement made for the TV premiere of Upendra's film.

The satellite rights for both UI and Max are held by Zee Network, which has issued promotional materials for their television premieres. Traditionally, films have been released on OTT platforms prior to their television broadcasts; however, the absence of information regarding the streaming availability of Max and UI has led to speculation among netizens about whether the digital rights have not yet been acquired. Alternatively, this could signify the onset of a new distribution model prioritizing television releases before OTT, especially considering that streaming launches frequently coincide with the availability of HD prints for unauthorized downloads.

Max: Only satellite rights with Zee?

Zee Network has reportedly been focusing solely on acquiring satellite rights for some time, allowing film teams the freedom to negotiate digital rights with other platforms. Shivarajkumar’s film Bhairathi Ranagal was anticipated to be available on Zee5 and Zee Kannada, similar to his previous production Vedhaa; however, the streaming rights ultimately went to Amazon Prime Video. In fact, Amazon Prime Video has emerged as the sole platform accessible to Kannada filmmakers, whether through pay-per-view or transactional video on demand (TVOD) rental options.

Max movie review: Kiccha Sudeep delivers an outstanding performance in a high-energy, one-man show.

Since Kaatera's release in February 2024, Zee5 has not secured any new OTT acquisitions, whereas Sun Network has acquired only a limited selection of films, including Bad Manners, Upadhyaksha, Fighter, Matinee, and Krishnam Pranaya Sakhi in 2024. A significant number of films released in 2024 have yet to be available on any OTT platform, and those that have successfully negotiated digital rights have predominantly been secured by Prime Video.
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