Kevin Vaz has unveiled the FICCI–EY Media and Entertainment Report 2026, outlining the sector’s growth trajectory, evolving consumption patterns, and emerging opportunities across digital, sports, and artificial intelligence.
The report has valued India’s media and entertainment industry at Rs 2.78 trillion in 2025, surpassing earlier estimates and outpacing GDP per capita growth. The sector has continued to expand, driven by strong fundamentals and rising consumption.
Digital has emerged as the largest segment, reshaping advertising, subscriptions, and commerce. The report has highlighted how monetisation models and audience engagement have evolved with digital at the centre.
At the same time, the industry has expanded into a multi-screen ecosystem. Connected TV has seen strong growth, while linear television, mobile, films, and print have continued to grow. The report has positioned India as an “AND” market, where platforms coexist rather than replace each other.
The animation, visual effects, gaming, and comics (AVGC) segment has also gained traction, opening up new formats of storytelling and global opportunities.
Sports has remained a key driver of mass engagement. Despite the rise of on-demand content, live sports has continued to bring audiences together across platforms.
The ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 has recorded strong digital engagement, with JioHotstar delivering 72.5 million concurrent streams during the final, marking a global record.
Cinema has also seen sustained momentum, with over 1,900 releases in the year and multiple films crossing the Rs 1 billion mark, indicating continued theatrical demand.
Live experiences have expanded in scale and immersion, signalling further growth potential in experiential entertainment.
Artificial intelligence has emerged as a key enabler across the ecosystem, driving personalisation, efficiency, and new creative possibilities. The report has also highlighted ongoing discussions around AI and copyright, pointing to the need for policy frameworks to ensure fair compensation for creators.
The industry has been projected to cross Rs 3 trillion by 2027, reflecting continued growth across segments.
