PwC sees India’s media and entertainment market reaching $36.7B by 2030

PwC India forecasts the country’s media and entertainment market will grow from $25.7 billion in 2025 to $36.7 billion by 2030, outpacing global growth. Internet advertising, OTT, gaming and data connectivity are expected to drive gains, alongside spending on premium experiences.

— Source publishedThu, 27 Aug, 2026, 20:54 IST·First seen Thu, 27 Aug, 2026, 21:20 IST·Source Financial Express · BrandWagon

What happened

PwC India forecasts India’s media and entertainment market will reach $36.7 billion by 2030, led by digital advertising, OTT, gaming and connectivity. Premium

Key facts

  • India media and entertainment market: $25.7 billion in 2025 to $36.7 billion by 2030
  • Overall CAGR: 7.4% versus 4% globally
  • Internet advertising: $7.5 billion to $14.3 billion; 13.9% CAGR
  • OTT: $2.2 billion to $3.6 billion; 10.2% CAGR
  • Gaming and e-sports: $1.5 billion to $2.6 billion; 11.3% CAGR
  • Data connectivity: $36.5 billion to $58.6 billion; 9.9% CAGR
  • TV revenue: $7.2 billion to $7.5 billion
  • Newspaper revenue: $3 billion to $3.5 billion

Why this matters

The forecast strengthens the case for partnerships or acquisitions in Indian ad tech, content platforms, gaming and data-enabled entertainment businesses.

What to watch

  • Quarterly growth in India digital advertising spend versus television and print ad spend.
  • Ad-supported OTT adoption, connected-TV reach, subscription churn and average revenue per user.
  • 5G/data-price trends and smartphone penetration beyond major metros.
  • Retail-media revenue growth at large Indian marketplaces, quick-commerce platforms and organized retailers.
  • Mall footfall, multiplex occupancy, concert and sports-event attendance, and tenant sales in destination centers.
  • Gaming regulations, real-money gaming policy changes and advertising restrictions.
  • Consumer discretionary-spend indicators, especially urban wage growth and inflation-adjusted household spending.
  • Increase test budgets for connected TV, short-form video, gaming and creator-led commerce, using incrementality measurement rather than click-based attribution alone.
  • Build or expand retail-media offerings around first-party shopper data, closed-loop conversion reporting and brand-funded promotions.
  • Partner with OTT, telecom, gaming and live-event platforms for bundled loyalty benefits, shoppable content and location-based offers.
  • Position stores in high-footfall entertainment districts as experience and fulfillment hubs; tailor food, beverage, beauty, fashion and impulse assortments to event calendars.
  • Prepare for higher digital-media costs by strengthening customer-data capture, loyalty enrollment and repeat-purchase programs.