Chennai sources have reported that talks between film producers predominantly from the Tamil and Telugu industries and Digital Service Providers (DSPs) having failed, a few theatre owners are a disgruntled bunch. Meanwhile they admit that the month of March is a ‘dull season’ for business anyway, theatre owners in B and C centers in small towns are struggling to cope due to the ongoing strike.
According to sources the standoff between the producers and digital service providers (DSPs) has resulted in no new Tamil or Telugu film releasing since March 1. Kannada and Malayalam film industries have also showed solidarity. Producers allege that DSPs like Qube and UFO charge steep projection fees for screening their films, leading to losses for the producers.
Furthermore another points out that it is unfair to hold the industry
hostage over this. The theatre owner said “Percentage wise, the production
costs budgeted for DSPs is negligible. There is more to this, no doubt. But to
tell the whole industry to shut down over, is not the right way to handle
things.” Moreover sources close to the developments say that theatre owners who
have been trying to intervene in the issue since last year to help break the
stand-off, failed to convince the producers.