Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah.
Credit: DH File Photo
Bengaluru: The Karnataka government on Wednesday formed a panel to implement a government-run OTT platform to promote Kannada films.
During the 2025-26 budget, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had announced that “steps will be taken to create an OTT platform to promote Kannada films.”
The panel has been constituted to obtain necessary information to prepare project outlines to create a streaming platform.
The panel will also conduct a comprehensive study and sanction the necessary grant to the government, according to a press statement issued by the Department of Information and Public Relations.
The Commissioner of Information and Public Relations Department will be the president of the panel.
The members include Mehboob Pasha, chairman of Kanteerava Studio Ltd; Sadhu Kokila, president of Karnataka Film Academy; K P Srikanth, film producer; Rockline Venkatesh, Film Producer/Distributor; Duniya Vijay, actor; Ivan D’Silva, member of KCA; Deshadri H, member of KCA, and joint directors (Photography and Film Branch) and Registrar of KCA.
Similar initiative in Kerala
In March 2024, the Kerala government launched the first government-backed OTT space.
Called CSpace, the platform was developed by Kerala State Film Development Corporation (KSTDC) and aims to promote Malayalam films with artistic and cultural value. It operates on a pay-per-view model.
Fifty percent of the revenue generated will be shared with the filmmakers.