Understanding why there is a phenomenal growth in Crime Series on OTT platforms
The rise of OTT
The OTT platform has made access to entertainment a lot easier. Gone are the days when we would have to look at a newspaper to know what was being telecasted and wait to watch it. There are no longer fights among siblings for the remote and debates on who gets to watch the TV and what show. Everything, almost everything, is in the small device we hold so dear to our hearts- our mobile phones.
One click, simple login, and you are transported into a world of endless choices- you pick according to your mood. And what’s even better?
The hosting platforms are multiple, each of which caters to different genres and spoil you for choices even more.
What helps these OTT platforms is also the minimal cost of subscribing to them. With its Rs.199 plan, Netflix has ensured it can reach the maximum number of people at a minimal cost. Because if we do the math, what is 199 for a month (for 1000+ shows and movies) when we spend Rs.300 for one movie ticket?
What are people watching?
People are now consuming everything, thanks to the OTT platform. Not only has comedy shows been a huge market, but the genre of ‘crime series’ and ‘murder thrillers’ are also huge. Every leading platform- from Amazon Prime, Hotstar, and Netflix to Zee 5, and Voot all have some crime series.
Additionally, series that are based on true stories, such as Delhi Crime, House of Secrets, Narcos, and The Serpent- have all seen a great response from the audience.
But why are people obsessed with crime drama?
Everyone loves a good mystery. Everyone loves to be given a chance to be a part of that mystery and get a chance to solve it as well. Insights into the criminal’s mind, understanding why they did what they did and looking at how things unfolded- give a tingling pleasure to the watchers.
True crime fascinates people because it helps them better understand their culture. It allows us to form opinions and judge the society we live in. Take the example of Delhi Crime’s first season, which portrayed the Nirbhaya Case. We all knew about the incident and what was the outcome of it, but we never knew how Delhi police handled the case and what were the intricacies of it. People also love the idea of justice. It is a small victory when the victims are vindicated and the criminal is punished.
Read more: Top 6 horror and thriller TV Series that you can Binge-Watch on New Year’s Eve
Crime series allows us to look at the underbelly of our society- a place where dark, unspoken things are committed. It enables us to stay invested in these crimes from a safe distance.
Understand the Legal Justice System
The series Criminal Justice gives us an insight into how the criminal justice system truly works. For those who have never been to a court or police station, these series make their perception of the justice system.
Crime series on OTT platforms are more honest and grounded in reality than movies. The freedom to explore more, be authentic, experiment, and longer time duration gives these crime series an edge over other media outlets.
So, why are there so many crime series on OTT platforms?
The OTT platform caters to the interest of people. They serve what audiences want to watch. So, the increasing number of crime series reflects what we want to watch more. It is a simple logic of demand and supply. In all, the psychology behind the increasing number of shows on crime does have to do with increased demand and popularity these shows enjoy.
