Sector Snapshot · Entertainment

India's Media & Entertainment Sector Goes Digital-First

A fast-read primer on India's media and entertainment sector — the backdrop against which we benchmark every company's cost structure in this category.

Rs 2,78,500 cr

India's M&E sector size, 2025 (+9.1% YoY)

Rs 3,30,000 cr

Projected M&E sector size by 2028

US$13.13 bn

Digital media market size, 2025

2-2.5 mn

Active digital creators in India

India's global rank in M&E market size

Digital Is Driving the Next Leg of Growth

The overall M&E sector keeps expanding, with online video leading the shift to digital consumption.

M&E Sector Size (US$ billion)

2022 → 2025 → 2028 forecast

$24.16bn

2022

$30.08bn

2025

$35.65bn

2028F

Online Video Industry (US$ billion)

2024 → 2030 forecast

$4.31bn

2024

$9.17bn

2030F

What's Pushing the Sector Forward

Digital adoption, a fast-growing gaming segment, and policy support are reshaping the sector.

Digital Growth

Digital media market reached US$13.13bn in 2025
Online video industry to grow from US$4.31bn (2024) to US$9.17bn by 2030

Gaming & Content

Online gaming grew 22% to become the 4th-largest M&E segment
Projected to reach Rs317bn by 2027

Policy Support

FDI limit raised from 74% to 100%
Union Budget FY27 proposes AVGC Content Creator Labs in 15,000 schools and 500 colleges

Recent Developments

A sample of the industry-wide and policy moves shaping the sector through early 2026.

→ India's M&E sector grew to Rs 2,78,500 crore (US$30.08bn) in 2025, a 9.1% YoY increase.
→ India's broadband internet subscriber base crossed 995.63 crore in September 2025.
→ FDI inflows into information & broadcasting reached Rs 82,201.29 crore since April 2000.
→ The subscription video-on-demand (SVOD) segment crossed US$1 billion in 2024, projected to reach US$2.68bn by 2030.
→ India's animation and VFX costs are 40-60% lower than in the West, backed by ~2,60,000 skilled professionals.
→ India's entertainment sector could unlock Rs 50,724 crore (US$6bn) by FY30 through global tie-ups and tech adoption.

Companies We Benchmark in This Sector

Listed Indian Entertainment companies in tDoBe's cost-benchmarking coverage.

Prime Focus

Sun TV Network

Nazara Technologies

PVR Inox

Zee Entertainment

Saregama India

Tips Music

Network18 Media

Hathway Cable

Media Matrix

Den Networks

Panorama Studios

Balaji Telefilms

NDTV

TV Today Network

GTPL Hathway

Asylum Nexus

See How These Companies Compare on Cost

The numbers above set the stage. Our Report translates it into a company-by-company cost benchmark — down to the category — so you can see exactly where a business sits against its peers.

Explore the Entertainment Report