The OTT industry in Bangladesh can grow rapidly with a little less regulation and more facilitation, speakers at a webinar have said.
The government should aspire to create an environment where OTT platforms can effectively regulate themselves and content creators on the platforms are not muzzled, they added.
The webinar, titled “OTT Guideline: International Best Practices," was organized by Dhaka Tribune and Bower Group Asia on Tuesday.
Addressing the event, Dhaka Tribune Executive Editor Reaz Ahmad said: “If the government creates an environment where the industry can thrive and self-regulation is well-practised, then I think too much restriction will not be needed."
He urged the government to look for ways to help the industry grow instead of focusing on restrictions.
Bangladesh Supreme Court advocate Jyotirmoy Barua said that for effective use of these particular media, the standard broadcasting policy should not be applied to online services.
Jude William Genilo, dean of the School of Social Science and head of the media studies and journalism department at University of Liberal Arts, said more entertainment programs would be consumed online through OTT platforms and a regulation such as the proposed OTT platform regulation might slow that growth.
Barrister Rashna Imam said the proposed regulation might muzzle the freedom and creativity of content creators.
Self-regulation is the norm
Claire Bloomfield, director of policy and research for the Asia Video Industry Association, shed light on how some other countries managed their OTT platforms.
“In Japan, no licences are required for the platforms. But they have put specific measures in place from a self-regulation perspective to protect specifically young people from online harm. No licence is required for Australia as well, and it’s a self-regulation system. They have developed an industry code with basic guidelines and classifications,” she said.
“If we don’t have an open mind like other countries in the world, then we must be able to publish our independent films on online platforms,” said Amitabh Reza Chowdhury, filmmaker and adjunct faculty, Independent University Bangladesh (IUB).
US-Bangladesh Business Council Director Sidhanta Mehra pointed out that more than 65% of Bangladesh’s population is under the age of twenty-five and this section is globally connected online.
“There is this digitally connected world that is making sure that they have access to global services,” he said.
Isha Rathnam, CLO (Director- legal Affairs) of Lionsgate, said: “When I say self-regulation, I mean an amicable understanding/co-existence between the regulator and the OTT platforms. Light touch regulation is the way forward, where a broad framework can be outlined by the regulators within which the OTT platforms can exercise self regulation.”
Asiatic 360 Director and Vice Chairperson Sara Zaker, Grameenphone Director (Public and Regulatory Affairs) Hossain Sadat, Netflix Director Ambika Khurana, Grameenphone Head of Digital Content Business Rafael Mahbub, EVP of Robi Axiata Armaan Ahmed Siddiqui, CEO of RabbitHole ASM Rafiq Ullah Romel, Head of Showtime of Dhaka Tribune Sadia Khalid Reeti, filmmaker Animesh Aich, filmmaker, script writer and founder of Underground Creative Factory (UCF) Mabrur Rashid Bannah, and Content Officer of Chorki Adar Rahman also spoke at the webinar.
