ArdorComm Media News Network
March 26, 2026
FICCI and Ernst & Young have projected strong growth for India’s media and entertainment (M&E) sector, estimating it will reach ₹3.3 lakh crore by 2028, expanding at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7%.
According to their latest report, the industry recorded a 9% year-on-year growth in 2025, reaching a total market size of ₹2.78 lakh crore. Digital media emerged as the dominant segment, surpassing the ₹1 lakh crore milestone. A major contributor to this surge was digital advertising, which grew 26% to ₹94,700 crore.
The broader advertising ecosystem also witnessed robust expansion, growing 13.5% to ₹1.5 lakh crore, accounting for 0.41% of India’s GDP. Meanwhile, the live events segment experienced remarkable momentum, registering a 44% jump in 2025. This growth was driven by increased spending on concerts, weddings, government programs, and religious gatherings.
Subscription-based digital content saw significant traction, with revenues rising 60% to ₹16,300 crore. The country recorded 21.6 crore paid video subscriptions across 14.3 crore households, largely fueled by premium sports and movie content moving behind paywalls.
Music streaming platforms also saw improved monetization, with paid subscriptions increasing 37% to 1.44 crore users, supported by strategic efforts to shift users toward paid services.
Despite global headwinds, the print segment in India remained steady, with advertising revenues inching up by 2%, particularly in premium editions targeting affluent readers in both metro and non-metro regions.
However, the video gaming segment faced a downturn, declining 17% following the implementation of restrictions on real-money gaming introduced in August 2025.
Source: PTI