India's entertainment and media sector is projected to expand from USD 25.7 billion in 2025 to USD 36.7 billion by 2030, per PwC India's Global Entertainment and Media Outlook 2026-2030. That trajectory substantially outpaces the 7.4% global CAGR forecast over the same window, positioning the country as one of the highest-growth E&M markets in the 53-country dataset PwC tracks.
From scale to monetization
The report's core thesis is a transition: India has solved distribution at volume, and the next phase is extracting yield from that reach. Internet advertising, OTT video, and gaming will absorb the majority of incremental revenue, fueled by expanding connectivity, smartphone penetration, and ad-supported tiers that lower the barrier to subscription. Traditional television and print continue to grow in India even as they decline globally — a divergence driven by deep cultural embedding and ongoing digital integration rather than displacement.
Regional content emerges as the underappreciated lever. Language-specific programming across streaming, music, and advertising is unlocking previously underserved markets, turning linguistic fragmentation into distinct revenue pools rather than a barrier to monetization. For platforms, the implication is straightforward: audience acquisition is no longer the bottleneck; value extraction is.
What this means for global screen players
The data signals a recalibration of competitive priorities. Indian platforms are retooling for profitability over raw subscriber adds, while legacy media operators are layering premium models and digital capabilities onto existing distribution moats. This dual-track optimization — premiumization on one side, efficiency on the other — is a template likely to resonate across emerging markets where structural conditions mirror India's.
From a portfolio perspective, the OTT and gaming segments warrant close monitoring as monetisation mechanics mature. Advertising-supported video on demand (AVOD), in particular, is positioned as a primary growth engine, reshaping revenue mix for both domestic streamers and global entrants eyeing the market. Regional content production budgets will likely follow the same trajectory, making language-specific IP an increasingly strategic asset class.
The takeaway
India is pivoting from a reach game to a yield game, and the sector's projected 43% revenue expansion by 2030 reflects that pivot at scale. For global entertainment executives, the report frames India not as a frontier for land-grabs but as a laboratory for value-driven media economics — one where the rules of audience engagement are being rewritten under conditions no mature market currently mirrors. Those operating without an India-specific strategy now have a documented rationale to revisit the calculus.