APSFTVTDC Chairman P. Bharat Bhushan has announced that the government is unable to implement a revenue-sharing model for the film industry due to severe financial constraints. Industry stakeholders have raised several urgent demands regarding licensing and tariffs.

  • The government is unable to implement a percentage-based revenue-sharing model between producers and exhibitors.
  • Current financial constraints prevent the state from offering financial assistance to the film sector.
  • Industry stakeholders are demanding single-window licensing and lower electricity tariffs.

During a high-level meeting of the AP Exhibitors’ Committee held in Vijayawada on Friday, P. Bharat Bhushan, Chairman of the Andhra Pradesh State Film, Television and Theatre Development Corporation (APSFTVTDC), delivered a significant update regarding the economic structure of the regional film industry. He stated that the government is currently not in a position to implement a percentage-based revenue-sharing system between film producers and exhibitors.

Mr. Bhushan highlighted that the state's current fiscal situation is a major hurdle. Due to ongoing financial constraints, the government is also unable to extend any form of direct financial assistance to either the production houses or the cinema exhibitors. This setback comes at a time when the industry is seeking more structured support to navigate rising operational costs.

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Industry Demands and Policy Requests

The meeting saw intense representation from various stakeholders, including producers, theatre owners, and exhibitors. The industry's primary goal is to streamline administrative processes and reduce the burden of recurring costs. Key demands included:

  • Single-Window Licensing: A request to implement a single-window mechanism for the issuance of B-Form licences for a five-year period, as per the Cinematograph Act.
  • Fire Safety Renewals: Extending the validity of fire licence renewals to five years to reduce bureaucratic friction.
  • Electricity Tariff Classification: A push to classify cinema exhibition as an 'industry' to allow theatres to access power tariffs on par with the hotel, services, and tourism sectors.
  • Price Regulation: Ensuring standard admission rates without steep increases or special surge pricing for new film releases.

Why This Matters

BozokMedia analysis shows that the inability to provide a revenue-sharing model or financial aid places the entire burden of economic volatility on individual exhibitors and producers. Without policy intervention regarding electricity tariffs and licensing, the sustainability of local cinema halls remains under threat.

The refusal to implement revenue-sharing models underscores the widening gap between government fiscal policy and the needs of the creative economy.
Did You Know?: The Cinematograph Act provides the legal framework for how films are licensed and exhibited across India.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Why can't the government help the film industry financially?
The Chairman cited significant state-level financial constraints as the primary reason for the inability to provide assistance.

2. What is the B-Form licence demand?
Exhibitors want a single-window system to issue B-Form licences for a five-year term to simplify operations.