India’s digital entertainment market expanded sharply in 2026, with OTT audiences, paid subscriptions, connected television viewing and emerging content formats recording strong growth.

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• India’s OTT audience grew 11% year-on-year to 664.9 million in 2026, with around 45% of the population watching online video.
• Active paid OTT subscriptions increased 16% to 172.6 million, highlighting continued consumer willingness to pay for digital entertainment services.
• Connected television audiences surged 60% from 2025, reaching 206.9 million and strengthening large-screen viewing alongside smartphones across Indian households.
• OTT users spend an average 14.9 hours weekly watching online video, generating an estimated 517 billion hours of annual consumption.
• Micro-dramas recorded 50% audience growth, while Korean dramas rose 48% and anime increased 32%, making them rapidly expanding entertainment formats.
• FAST channels reached an estimated 35.2 million viewers, indicating growing interest in free, advertising-supported streaming content across India.
• India’s digital audio ecosystem remains substantial, with 227.3 million monthly active audio streamers, including 15 million paid subscribers.
• The report identified 44 Indian cities with at least one million OTT viewers, demonstrating the expanding geographical reach of digital entertainment consumption.