India's Media & Entertainment Market to Reach $36.7 Bn by 2030: PwC

India’s media & entertainment market is entering a technology-led growth phase, with digital advertising, OTT streaming, gaming, artificial intelligence and connectivity expected to reshape the sector over the next five years. PwC India Global Entertainment & Media Outlook 2026-2030 says the E&M sector in India is expected to see 7.4% CAGR growth from $25.7 billion in 2025 to $36.7 billion by 2030.

Digital Advertising and OTT Lead Growth

Internet advertising is likely to continue to be one of the most powerful growth areas, with revenue forecast to nearly double from $7.5 billion in 2025 to $14.3 billion by 2030. With the growing trend of brands targeting consumers through digital channels, there is an increase in search and video advertising, which should drive the segment to a 13.9% CAGR.

OTT video is also projected to see a huge increase, with the Indian market expected to increase from $2.2 billion in 2025 to $3.6 billion by 2030 at 10.2% CAGR. But now, streaming companies are looking to move past the initial wave of subscribing customers to monetising with advertising-supported models, premium content, and regional programming, as well as improved user engagement.

The gaming and esports market is expected to increase from $1.5 billion to $2.6 billion, growing at a 11.3% CAGR in the same timeframe. In-game advertising and sponsorships as well as recurring revenue streams are forecast to grow in significance for the industry.

Also Read: India's Retail Media Market to Hit $8.1 Billion by 2031: Report

AI, Connectivity and Regional Content Reshape Media

AI is likely to impact the entire entertainment and media industry from content creation to production, discovery, advertising and personalisation. Virtual production, de-ageing, multilingual voice modelling and recommendation systems are just a few applications that can enhance efficiency and monetisation.

Connectivity will also be a key priority, as data connectivity revenue is projected to grow from $36.5 billion in 2025 to $58.6 billion by 2030. Rich digital experiences and greater reach of audiences are expected to be supported by the expansion of mobile, broadband, fibre and 5G infrastructure.

While the digital revolution is shaking up the traditional media, its strength is expected to remain. By 2030, TV revenue is expected to grow from $7.2 billion to $7.5 billion, and newspaper revenue to grow from $3 billion to $3.5 billion. This is predicted to be bolstered by regional audiences, trusted brands and the seamless use of traditional and digital channels.

Overall, PwC expects India’s media industry to move from a scale-focused model towards sustainable monetisation, with technology, regional content, AI and differentiated consumer experiences becoming central to future growth.