How many OTT platforms are operating in India? Figures ranged from 25 to 70. Reason: success of the big domestic media companies’ digital extensions and the arrival of international platforms, apart from a surge in viewing during the COVID19 pandemic-induced lockdowns and restrictions.

Increased investments in Indian content and even their success globally has urged many others to join the over the top (OTT) streaming platform rush. Netflix show ‘Delhi Crime’ Season 1 won an Emmy Award in 2020 in the Best Drama Series made outside of the US.

Though there is a raging  debate going  on in India presently on how such streaming platforms could be brought under regulations — currently a platform just needs to send its details to the government and abide by the mandated content guidelines — critics opine very few such services are making profits.

With the draft Telecoms Bill suggesting to redefine OTT platforms— both audio and video — as telecom services, another wrinkle needs to be ironed out as streaming platforms have pushed back against such categorisation.

Yesterday, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) came out with a list of OTT platforms whose details are registered with the government. And, that number is 57.

So, one can safely say there are 57 OTT video platforms recognised in India. The MIB list doesn’t include the audio OTT services like WhatsApp, Signal, Telegram or Facebook Messenger — all of which empowers subscribers to make calls on their networks as long as there is an Internet connection.