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Growth in India’s media and entertainment sector will be driven by artificial intelligence-led content creation at scale, rapid formalisation of creator-led formats, and the rise of live experiences as a national monetisation engine, according to a Deloitte report.
The report, titled “Technology, Media and Telecommunications Predictions 2026”, said generative AI is making content creation faster and more cost-efficient, enabling high-quality output across languages and formats. This shift is accelerating the emergence of micro-dramas, short episodic series designed for mobile-first consumption, as a scalable and cost-effective storytelling format that appeals to both creators and brands, it said.
Deloitte estimates that production costs for such formats range between INR 25,000 and INR 50,000 per episode for two-to-five-minute content without major stars, translating to INR 2.5 lakh to INR 5 lakh for a 10-episode season. Even premium productions featuring top influencers can be completed within INR 7.5 lakh to INR 10 lakh per season, it said.
“The content production costs can be further reduced if creators use AI effectively,” said Chandrashekar Mantha, partner and media and entertainment sector leader at Deloitte India. “Costs can go significantly lower while still achieving higher production value, delivering a richer viewing experience.”
The report notes that at least 15 micro-drama apps are currently active in India, with around 30-40 per cent launched by existing platforms. Subscription pricing is typically in the INR 299 to INR 499 per quarter range, indicating an early-stage markstill calibrating scale, pricing, and retention.
According to the report, creator-led video podcasts are also gaining traction. These vodcasts are evolving into multi-platform franchises. They are discovered through short clips on social media, consumed in full on mobile devices, and increasingly viewed on connected TVs.
India’s podcast audience doubled to 200 million in 2025 from 100 million in 2024, driven by strong adoption among Gen Z users. Monetisation is expected to be led by advertising, sponsorships, branded content, community access and live extensions, while subscription-led models may take longer to scale in a price-sensitive market, said the report.
Live entertainment is emerging as the third major growth driver for the M&E ecosystem, according to Deloitte India, which said the live events sector was valued at over INR 20,800 crore in 2024, reflecting 15 per cent year-on-year growth.
However, infrastructure gaps remain a key constraint, said the report. It highlighted that future investment will likely focus on mid-sized venues with capacities of 2,000 to 10,000 seats, as expansion moves beyond the metro cities.
This shift could result in a 5-10 per cent increase in concerts outside major cities by 2030, significantly expanding the market for artists, platforms, brands and promoters, it said. It will also help transform live entertainment intellectual property into a scalable business, supported by digital distribution, said Deloitte India.
“The younger population is increasingly engaging with podcasts and vodcasts on mobile devices,” said Peeyush Vaish, partner and TMT industry leader at Deloitte India. “Live events have also grown rapidly in recent years. In 2026 alone, nearly 200 live events are planned.”
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