Ever wondered why newly released movies hit the small screens in a jiffy unlike the past where such ventures would take months and even years for television viewing. Technology has been the main driving force behind such swift changes, cutting down the gap in the journey from theatres to television. Bengaluru Chronicle reports on the world of television premieres. “The entire system relating to new released films airing on television has seen a sea change in the past few years. Earlier, a newly released movie would take several months and even years in some exceptional cases. Even before the age of screening movies through advanced technologies like Qube, and so on which involves hi-tech transmission involving satellites, a film would initially release in ‘A’ centres first, and then it would be gradually extend to other centres ‘B’ and ‘C’ centres,” says Jagdeesh, a former employee of a television channel who was in-charge of procuring film rights for TV.
As per film distribution terminology, ‘A’ centres are those theatres and screens located in prime cities like Bengaluru, Mysuru, Mangaluru, and other important district headquarters, and B centers would be the next tier of cities and then C are referred to those theatres located in next tier of rural towns and some which are close to villages with highest population.
Jagadeesh, adds that with the latest technology involving simultaneous releasing of films, a new film is released in theatres and screens from 100 to 200 (even 300 plus in some cases) theatres and screens across the state. “The producer of a movie and the concerned TV channel which purchases the TV rights, would usually have an agreement. If a film runs successfully and sustains popularity drawing audience to theatres, the channel would have agreed to not air the film until a specific period like 50 days or till 100 days in theatre. However, if the same film fails and turns out to be an average affair at the box office, the TV channel these days telecast within a month after the film is released or whenever it finds it suitable to release according to its financial interests,” says Chandru, a film producer.
It is usually the films of star heroes and a handful of chosen evergreen popular actors who have a huge following on TV, the rate of the TV rights for the films are fixed. Subramanya, the senior film critic wraps up saying that earlier there were particular agreements that a film would not be released before three years after the films were released, which usually many TV channels would have defied it. Later it was dropped to one year and now it all depends on how a film fares well at the box office, he signs off.
