Allu Aravind to dispose Aha OTT. Aha, launched in 2020, stands as a premier Telugu OTT platform, jointly owned by Arha Media and Broadcasting Private Limited (led by Allu Aravind) and My Home Group. Building on the success of Aha Telugu, the platform expanded its reach with the launch of Aha Tamil in 2022.
However, the digital streaming landscape poses significant financial challenges, despite the massive viewership numbers. OTT platforms struggle to turn substantial profits, primarily due to the high cost of content, including movies, web series, and other shows. Aha made substantial investments to garner a large viewership, producing original content like Balakrishna’s "Unstoppable" show and various other shows.
Despite their efforts, reports indicate that the Aha team is growing disillusioned with managing the OTT platform due to the inherent high risk. Aha Video mainly caters to smaller films, while medium and big-budget films are often secured by larger platforms like Netflix, Prime Video, Disney+ Hotstar, and Zee5. Additionally, Aha's subscription price is considerably lower than that of other OTT platforms, further complicating their financial operations.
Facing these challenges, the team is reportedly exploring options to sell the platform. Discussions have commenced with Sony Network, Sun Network, and other major vendors, signaling a potential shift in Aha's future direction.