Published on 09:25 PM, June 29, 2022

Binge and stream: Cheapest packages for popular OTT platforms

Collage: Sheikh Mehedi Morshed

OTT platforms have ensured that instead of relying on television, we can stop, pause and stream with just the click of a single button -- unleashing the world of non-stop entertainment at the palm of our hand.

Streaming platforms like Netflix, Amazon Prime, HBO Max, Disney plus have given us tons of superb binge-worthy web-series like "Stranger Things", "Money Heist", "The Umbrella Academy", "Mirzapur", "The Family Man", "Kota Factory", "Patal Lokh" and "Panchayat", among others.

While foreign OTT platforms already have a sizable subscription base, Bengali platforms like Bioscope, Bongo, Hoichoi made a smashing impact in the entertainment scene.

Hoichoi Bangladesh entered into the entertainment industry in 2019 with Amitabh Reza Chowdhury directorial "Dhaka Metro" and since then, it has given back-to-back hit local contents like "Mohanagar", "Taqdeer", "Sabrina" and "Dour", among others.

Amidst the surge in Covid-19 cases, streaming platform like Zee 5 (2020) and Chorki (2021) paved way for more local projects. Zee 5 was home to "Ladies & Gentlemen", "Mainkar Chipay" "WTFry" and "Contract".

Chorki proved to be the ultimate game-changer, its original web contents including Mizanur Rahman Aryan's "Networker Baire", Robiul Alam Robi's anthology series "Unoloukik" and Nuhash Humayun's horror web series "Pett Kata Shaw'' became super popular among the masses.

While many of us are aware about the popular OTT platforms, the subscription fee of these sites, especially the international sites remain confusing for most of us.

Here is a simple breakdown of some of the subscription fees for some popular OTT platforms.

1. Chorki: It has 3 price subscription packages for its viewers, starting with the cheapest package: BDT 299 for 6 months,  BDT 499 for the yearly package, which both consist of 5 screens. And the Yearly plus package is only BDT 799 for 7 screens.

2. Hoichoi Bangladesh: The yearly subscription fee is BDT 599 only.

3. Bioscope: If you are a Grameenphone user, you can easily get the "Bioscope Prime pass" by buying the bundle offer from the MyGP app.

4. Zee 5: This platform seems to have the most reasonable option for streaming. While some of its contents are free, you can access its premium projects with BDT 60 per month. The 1-year subscription fee is only 445 BDT only.

5. Netflix: The popular streaming platform has two different price options for mobile and TV users.

Mobile users can buy it for BDT 340 ($ 3.99) only while TV users have to pay BDT 850 ($ 9.99) for the entire month. Although the TV package is more on the costly side, you get to enjoy 5 screens with your friends and family.

6. Amazon Prime: Amazon Prime has one of the most brilliant catalogues of Indian series and films. You can easily see their works for only 509. 15 BDT only ($5.99).

7. HBO Max: HBO Max has one of the most expensive subscription fees of all time. It will cost you BDT 1274 ($14.99) for a month's subscription fee.

8. Disney Plus: If you are a Marvel Cinematic Universe fan, then this is your favourite destination for all the popular superhero series. You can watch "Ms Marvel", "Wanda Vision" with just BDT 679 ($7.99) for the monthly subscription.

OTT platforms are thriving hard to produce high-quality contents to entertain the audience. While Illegal downloads via torrent or any other apps can affect their business, our people have been more open to pay for the services due to reasonable rates.