The Impact of Online Streaming Platforms on the Film Industry and Film-Viewing Culture in Malaysia

Abstract

Technology changes the look of the film industry, particularly regarding marketability through online streaming platforms. Online streaming provides a second option for viewers, which has altered Malaysia’s film-viewing culture. This difference is significant between watching movies on TV screens and in cinemas, regulated and filtered by the Film Censorship Board (Lembaga Penapisan Filem, LPF), compared to streaming online via platforms not bound by LPF regulations. Through qualitative and library research methods, this study examined the development and changes in film-viewing culture in Malaysia and the relevant acts. The Culture of the Streaming Model was used as a guide to explore the development and changes in film-viewing culture in the Malaysian film industry. In conclusion, the changes brought about by the advances in technology have significant implications for the film industry, particularly ensuring that inappropriate content does not reach young people.