OTT vs. Theatres: How Student Viewing Habits Are Evolving

The past decade has seen a radical shift in how viewers consume entertainment. Students of the Presidency School of Media Studies, Presidency University, Bengaluru, in particular, a demographic who are largely part of the digital-native generation, have been most affected. The war between Over-the-Top (OTT) streaming platforms and conventional theatres is more than just technology – it’s convenience, culture, and lifestyle. The student body today is leading the charge that is changing how stories are watched, shared, and experienced.

 

Why the Bloom Is on OTT: Convenience and Content

Time and money are often precious commodities for students. OTT platforms, including Netflix, Amazon Prime, Disney+ Hotstar, and regional services, provide the ease of viewing content at any time of day while remaining cost-effective. “Not everyone can go to theatres as there are ticket, transportation, and time barriers, while with OTT one just has to subscribe for a variety of content, that too shared by friends. Smartphones and laptops have made hostels, PG accommodations, and even classrooms a small theatre, enabling students to watch a film as per their wish.”

 

Aside from convenience, the prevailing appeal of OTT is variety. From international web series and anime to regional films and documentaries, there is something for all on offer. Algorithms suggest shows based on a user’s viewing history, making the experience personal in a way that theatres cannot offer. “In addition, students who are studying identities, cultures, and academic fields now have access to niche genres that seldom make it to the big screen.”

 

The Social Experience of Theatres

Even in an era of streaming, theatres maintain a special place in students’ cultural and emotional worlds. A first-day, first-show viewing of a blockbuster movie with friends, the immersive big-screen visuals, and shared laughter or applause can never be forgotten. For many, theatres are about more than just the movie they are a place for bonding, outings, and celebration. Theatre-going is further incentivised by events like film festivals and student discounts that could make a big-screen movie experience the kind filled with visual splendour impossible to capture on a laptop an easier choice.

 

Pandemic Acceleration

COVID-19 became a turning point in viewing behaviour. As theatres were shut, OTT was the only available source of entertainment for home-stayed students. This gave way to new habits — binge-watching entire seasons, group viewing parties over video calls, and exploring world cinema via subtitles. Post the reopening of theatres, several students had already learned to enjoy the convenience of OTT and had seen enough Hindi films to become choosy about which ones they would want to watch only in cinemas.

 

Hybrid Habits and the Future

The trend now is not a total swap, but rather an add-on. OTT is students’ go-to for casual, day-to-day viewing shows, documentaries, or global content while theatres become the preferred destination for big-budget films or franchise- and star-driven projects. In simple terms, OTT is convenience and exploration, while theatres are spectacle and community.

 

The OTT vs. theatre debate is not about competition but co-existence. Both platforms cater to different needs of students: OTT matches their dynamic, multitasking personality, and theatres satisfy their social and cultural appetite. As technology advances and film industries reconfigure themselves, the ways that students view will consistently change what it means to “watch a movie.”

 

 

Written by,

Dr. Darshan B.M.

Assistant Professor

Presidency School of Media Studies