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India's OTT Boom: Video Subscriptions Surge 11% to Rs 9,200 Crore

India's over-the-top video sector is showing impressive financial growth. Subscription revenues jumped by 11% last year, crossing the Rs 9,200 crore mark. The government's own platform, WAVES OTT, is also gaining traction with millions of downloads. This expansion highlights the global appetite for Indian stories and public service content.

Key Points: India Video Subscription Revenue Hits Rs 9,200 Crore in 2024

  • Video subscription revenue in India grew 11% to reach Rs 9,200 crore in 2024
  • An estimated 9.5 to 11.8 crore individuals now pay for OTT streaming content
  • Prasar Bharati's WAVES OTT platform has seen over 80 lakh downloads in its first year
  • The platform focuses on free access to public broadcasting content globally, funded by advertising
2 min read

Video subscription revenues in India surge 11 pc to Rs. 9,200 crore: Minister

India's OTT video subscription revenue grew 11% to Rs 9,200 crore in 2024, with 9.5-11.8 crore paying users, as Prasar Bharati's WAVES OTT expands globally.

"The video subscription revenues posted an 11 per cent growth rate in 2024 to scale the Rs 9,200 crore mark. - L. Murugan, Minister of State for I&B"

New Delhi, Dec 17

The over-the-top (OTT) sector has significantly contributed towards India’s soft power by enabling global access to Indian stories, creative talent, cultural heritage, and independent filmmaking, Parliament was informed on Wednesday.

In a written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha, Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting, L. Murugan, said that as per industry estimates (FICCI-EY Media and Entertainment Industry Report 2025), the video subscription revenues posted an 11 per cent growth rate in 2024 to scale the Rs 9,200 crore mark. The number of users paying for streaming content on OTT platforms are estimated between 9.5-11.8 crore individuals.

He also stated that Prasar Bharati’s platform 'WAVES OTT' has further strengthened this outreach by making Doordarshan and All India Radio’s rich archives, regional arts, documentaries, classical music, literature-based programming, and multilingual content accessible to audiences worldwide.

'WAVES OTT' has recorded a robust growth with more than 80 lakh downloads by users in the first year of its launch. This reflects the rising demand for multilingual Indian content and public service media on digital platforms, the minister pointed out.

The platform is currently in a growth and expansion phase, with a steadily increasing international user footprint. Revenue streams from international markets are being progressively developed through strategic partnerships, he explained.

It has introduced a framework to support emerging filmmakers and creators, providing them with a technology-driven distribution platform to reach diverse global audiences.

'WAVES OTT' is primarily a subscription-free public service platform and does not operate on a subscription-based model. Advertising is its main source of revenue. It focuses on democratising access to public broadcasting content across India and globally, the minister further stated.

The newly-inserted Section 7(1B)(ii) of the Cinematograph Act, 1952 (as amended in 2023), empowers the Central Government, under Section 79(3) of the Information Technology Act, 2000 to take remedial action against intermediaries hosting pirated film contents, the minister added.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

R
Rohit P
Rs. 9,200 crore is huge! But I wonder how much of this actually reaches the creators and artists. The platforms make money, but are the writers and technicians getting fair pay? Hope the growth benefits the entire ecosystem.
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Aman W
WAVES OTT is a game-changer. Free access to Doordarshan archives and classical music? That's a treasure trove for students and culture enthusiasts. More power to public service broadcasting going digital!
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Sarah B
As someone living abroad, I love seeing Indian content become more accessible. My friends here are now watching Malayalam thrillers and Punjabi dramas. It's a great way to share our culture. The 11% growth makes sense!
K
Karthik V
Good to see action against piracy mentioned. It hurts the industry badly. If people can pay for multiple mobile recharges, they can pay for one OTT subscription. Support original content, yaar.
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Nisha Z
While the growth is impressive, I hope the focus on "global audiences" doesn't mean neglecting stories from small towns and villages. Our soft power should be rooted in authentic, diverse Indian experiences, not just what sells internationally.
M
Michael C
The estimate of 9.5-

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