Video-on-demand service provider SonyLIV does not see any “threat” from digital content platforms such as Netflix and Amazon Prime in India, and said that more players will help build a ‘large ecosystem’ to enable market growth.
“We are very excited about what is happening around us. It is interesting to see how people are seeing the opportunity in India, and I believe there is room for many more players. There is no threat ... (more players coming) is good for the industry. The industry is working together to create a large ecosystem. Players are investing to grow the market,” Uday Sodhi, EVP and Head - Digital Business, Sony Pictures Networks (SPN), told PTI .
He further said: “We being the pioneers in this business, naturally see ourselves as a leader. We have differentiated content. Our biggest chunk of viewership comes from our TV shows... followed by sports. We are also investing in original digital content.”
SonyLIV, which recently completed five years of operations and is one of the first over the top (OTT) platforms in the country, did not share its financial numbers. The app has been downloaded 45 million times thus far. Its monthly user base stands at around 25 to 30 million.
Apart from Netflix and Amazon Prime, other domestic OTT platforms include Hotstar, ALT Balaji and Voot.
Sony LIV has a content bank of around 70 original digital productions in half a dozen Indian languages.
“Two-three more original shows will be released in March or April this year,” he added.
Sodhi said the digital video user base will expand threefold, up to 600 million, in the next three to four years.
