India M&E sector hits $29.6bn record in 2025

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- India's Media & Entertainment sector posted a 9% year‑on‑year growth to INR2.78 trillion ($29.63 bn) in 2025, with the filmed entertainment segment reaching a record INR205 bn ($2.18 bn) per the FICCI‑EY report.
- Digital media became the largest segment, crossing $10.66 bn for the first time, and digital advertising rose 26% to $10.09 bn, accounting for 63% of total ad revenues.
- Streaming market hit $2.9 bn in 2025, with regional‑language consumption share climbing to 56% from 27% in 2020.
- Live events segment surged 44% to $1.55 bn, driven by ticketed concerts, weddings, government events and religious gatherings.
- Film segment saw theatrical revenues rise 14% and 37 films earn $10.7 m+, while digital and satellite rights values fell 8% and 10% respectively.
- Connected TV subscriptions grew 35%, boosting ad revenue to $1.06 bn and reaching about 40 million weekly active homes.
- Online gaming revenues fell 17% after the August 2025 ban on money gaming, while in‑app purchases rose 15% and esports revenues slipped 8%.
Why it matters: The surge lifts the sector’s contribution to GDP and creates jobs for millions, while advertisers and streaming platforms capture a larger share of ad spend; meanwhile, traditional TV loses viewers and the gaming ban cuts revenue for money‑gaming operators, shifting spend toward in‑app purchases.




