State unveils portal for sale of movie tickets

Hyderabad: In a first of its kind in the country, the Telangana State Film Development Corporation (TSFDC) has launched an online portal for sale of tickets and to accord e-permissions for film shootings.

Launching the facility here on Saturday, State Cinematography Minister Talasani Srinivas Yadav said the new portal will act as a single platform for all the new and existing cinema halls, multiplexes and online ticketing websites. The initiative has been taken to achieve total transparency in the sale of tickets and tax collections. Besides, it will facilitate the government to transfer necessary benefits to the producers and exhibitors though the portal,
he added.

“Nearly, 400 and odd cinema theatres and multiplexes have been consulted on launching a portal. And, all have appreciated the move, he said. The portal gives accurate data on sale of tickets and tax collections, as per the new GST taxation regime. This will help in increasing the government revenues.

Flexible ticket pricing with an upper limit and additional show on demand components have also been included in the new facility.

The new TSFDC portal will act as a gateway for all and any number of online ticketing websites can operate through the portal. Also, any theater, producer can also host their online ticketing website, offering tickets, with no extra service charges, which will be benefit citizens, he said.

Accordingly, the portal’s Application Programme Interface (API) module will be shared with the online websites for free of cost. That apart, box office API will also be shared with cinema halls, multiplexes, who want to develop interface with their own front-end.

The single window facility will put an end to all kinds of monopoly in the sale of tickets. In turn, it brings compliance with the Competition Commission of India (CCI) Act, he said. Srinivas Yadav said that separate login facility will be provided to government and TSFDC officials, producers and distributors.

He said that the new portal will also address the constraints faced by the producers in obtaining permissions for shootings. From now onwards, producers could apply online for shooting permissions. And, “the departments concerned will have to give their approvals within a week’s time. Failing which, the producers can go ahead with their shootings, treating that the permissions deemed to have been given,” he said.

Reiterating government’s commitment to take a series of measures for the development of film industry in the State, the minister said, an order to screen fifth show will be notified in a couple of days and it will benefit the small budget films.

Similarly, the State government has already called for tenders to establish mini theaters in the TS RTC bus stations. Besides, a ministerial sub-committee has been constituted to figure out and suggest to the government on the measures to be taken for the development of film industry in the State, he said.