India’s entertainment technology sector has witnessed exponential growth in 2026, driven by affordable internet access, widespread smartphone penetration, and a digitally-savvy population of over 759 million active internet users. The entertainment tech industry, encompassing streaming platforms, gaming companies, and music services, has become a multi-billion dollar ecosystem that’s reshaping how Indians consume content. Here’s an in-depth look at the top 10 entertainment tech firms leading this digital revolution.
1. JioHotstar (JioStar)
Market Position: India’s Largest OTT Platform
In February 2025, the media landscape witnessed a seismic shift when Disney+ Hotstar and JioCinema merged to form JioHotstar under the joint venture entity JioStar. This merger created India’s largest streaming platform with over 500 million users and a content library exceeding 300,000 hours.
The platform represents a 63.16% stake held by Viacom18 and Reliance Industries, with Disney retaining 36.84% ownership. JioHotstar combines the best of both platforms, offering international content from Disney, NBCUniversal’s Peacock, Warner Bros. Discovery’s HBO, and Paramount, alongside robust Indian regional content.
Key Strengths:
- Exclusive streaming rights for IPL, WPL, and major ICC cricket tournaments
- Sports coverage including English Premier League, Wimbledon, Pro Kabaddi League
- Ultra HD 4K streaming capabilities
- Multi-angle viewing for live sports events
- AI-powered insights and recommendations
Following the merger, JioHotstar restructured its subscription plans in January 2026, with the annual Premium plan priced at ₹2,199 (up from ₹1,499) and the annual Super plan at ₹1,099. The platform’s strategy of offering limited free content has made premium entertainment accessible while maintaining revenue growth.
2. Netflix India
Market Position: Premium Global Content Leader
Netflix continues to dominate the premium streaming segment in India, maintaining strong subscriber growth despite competition. The platform’s India slate for 2025 included 6 films, 13 series, and 5 unscripted titles, demonstrating its commitment to localized content creation.
Popular Netflix India originals include Heeramandi, IC814, Delhi Crime, and Mismatched, alongside global hits like The Night Agent and Squid Game. The platform has strategically positioned itself as the destination for high-quality, critically acclaimed content.
Pricing Strategy: Netflix offers competitive pricing starting at ₹149 per month for mobile-only plans, making it accessible to price-sensitive Indian consumers while maintaining its premium positioning.
3. Amazon Prime Video India
Market Position: Bundled Value Leader
Amazon Prime Video India has carved a significant niche by offering streaming services as part of the broader Amazon Prime membership, which includes free delivery, Prime Reading, and Prime Gaming benefits. With approximately 15 million paying subscribers and projections to reach 20 million, the platform has demonstrated consistent growth.
The service is priced at ₹299 per month, positioning it as a mid-premium offering that delivers value through its bundled services. Prime Video’s strength lies in its mix of Amazon Originals, Bollywood releases, and exclusive digital premieres.
Strategic Advantages:
- Integration with Amazon’s e-commerce ecosystem
- Early digital releases of major theatrical films
- Strong regional content across multiple Indian languages
- Original series focusing on Indian storytelling
4. Nazara Technologies
Market Position: India’s Leading Gaming and Esports Powerhouse
Nazara Technologies stands as India’s premier publicly-listed gaming and sports media platform with a market capitalization of ₹10,064 crores. The company has established a diversified portfolio across interactive gaming, esports, and gamified early learning ecosystems.
Key Assets:
- Gaming IPs: World Cricket Championship (WCC), CarromClash, Animal Jam
- Esports: NODWIN Gaming (India’s largest esports platform)
- Sports Media: Sportskeeda, Pro Football Network
- Early Learning: Kiddopia
- Skill Gaming: Halaplay, Openplay
With over 90% of gaming revenues generated overseas, Nazara has successfully scaled globally, particularly in markets like the US and UK. The company’s “Friends of Nazara” M&A model has enabled strategic acquisitions such as Fusebox Games and ZeptoLab IPs, enhancing exposure to high-ARPU (Average Revenue Per User) markets.
Financial Performance: Choice Institutional Equities projects revenue and EBITDA growth at a CAGR of 30.7% and 44.5% respectively from FY25 to FY28, with analysts maintaining a “Buy” rating and target price of ₹390, representing 55% upside potential.
India’s gaming market, with over 500 million gamers, remains significantly under-monetized with less than 3% IAP (In-App Purchase) conversion, creating massive growth opportunities for Nazara.
5. Spotify India
Market Position: Leading Music Streaming Platform
Spotify has emerged as India’s leading paid music streaming service with a 26% market share, surpassing domestic competitors. Since its India launch in February 2019, Spotify has transformed the music streaming landscape through superior algorithms, personalized playlists, and extensive music catalogs.
The platform serves as the go-to destination for both Indian and international music, with six out of ten most-streamed albums being international in recent years. Spotify’s strength lies in its ability to cater to diverse musical tastes while maintaining competitive pricing.
Pricing:
- Free tier with ads
- Premium plans starting at ₹119/month
- Premium Platinum at ₹299/month with lossless streaming and AI features
India generated 1.03 trillion on-demand music streams in 2023, making it the second-largest market by volume globally. The music streaming industry is projected to reach ₹7,800 crores by 2026, growing at a CAGR of 13.4%.
6. Zee Entertainment Enterprises (ZEE5)
Market Position: Leading Indian Content Platform
Zee Entertainment Enterprises, with its OTT platform ZEE5, remains a formidable player in India’s entertainment tech ecosystem. Trading at approximately ₹143.94 as of July 2025, the company has demonstrated remarkable financial turnaround with Q1 FY2025 net profit surging to ₹188 crores.
ZEE5 specializes in Bollywood content and regional programming across 12 Indian languages, making it a preferred platform for Indian-centric entertainment. The platform has expanded its presence in international markets, particularly the US and Canada, targeting the Indian diaspora.
Strategic Focus:
- Strong regional language content
- Bollywood films and series
- Original ZEE5 productions
- Nearly debt-free balance sheet
- Robust free cash flow generation
Despite the failed merger with Sony in January 2024, Zee has focused on organic growth and digital expansion, with analysts projecting the stock could reach ₹187 by end-2025 and ₹216 by end-2026.
7. Sony Pictures Networks India (SonyLIV)
Market Position: Sports and Premium Content Specialist
SonyLIV has established itself as one of India’s premier sports streaming platforms with rights to marquee events including the Olympics, FIFA World Cup, European football leagues, and major tennis tournaments. The platform combines sports streaming with premium entertainment content.
As the 7th largest SVOD service in India with over 10 million paying subscriptions, SonyLIV has invested heavily in content quality and user experience. The platform recently revamped its app with TCS and increased content from South India to broaden its appeal.
Content Strategy:
- Exclusive sports rights
- Premium international series
- Regional South Indian content
- Sony network television shows
- Original SonyLIV productions
The platform operates on a freemium model, balancing ad-supported content with premium subscription tiers to maximize reach and revenue.
8. JioSaavn
Market Position: Homegrown Music Streaming Leader
JioSaavn, backed by Reliance Jio, serves approximately 110 million users, making it one of India’s largest homegrown music streaming platforms. The service excels in Bollywood, regional languages, and independent Indian artists across 15+ languages.
Competitive Advantages:
- Free access for Jio subscribers (Pro subscription included)
- Extensive Bollywood and regional catalog
- Artist radio and curated playlists
- Lyrics integration
- High-quality audio options
Pricing starts at ₹99/month for Pro, or ₹299/year for Pro+, with Jio subscribers receiving complimentary access. This bundling strategy has enabled JioSaavn to maintain strong market presence despite competition from global players.
The platform’s authenticity in Indian content curation and deep regional language support spanning Tamil, Telugu, Punjabi, Bengali, and Marathi sets it apart in the crowded music streaming market.
9. Dream11
Market Position: Fantasy Sports Leader
Dream11 has revolutionized sports engagement in India by pioneering fantasy sports gaming. As India’s largest fantasy sports platform, it has created a new category of entertainment tech that combines sports viewing with interactive gaming.
Platform Features:
- Fantasy cricket, football, kabaddi, and basketball
- User-friendly interface
- Real-time scoring and updates
- Cash prizes and tournaments
- Licensed partnerships with major sports leagues
Dream11’s success has spawned an entire ecosystem of skill-based gaming platforms, demonstrating the massive potential for interactive sports entertainment in India. The platform benefits from India’s cricket-crazy culture and growing interest in other sports.
10. WinZO Games
Market Position: Leading Vernacular Gaming Platform
WinZO has emerged as India’s largest social gaming platform, offering skill-based games in 12+ Indian languages. The platform democratizes gaming by focusing on regional accessibility and vernacular content.
Key Differentiators:
- 100+ skill-based games
- Multi-language support (12+ Indian languages)
- Real-money gaming tournaments
- Social gaming features
- Over 120 million registered users
WinZO’s vernacular-first approach has enabled it to penetrate tier-2 and tier-3 cities, capturing audiences traditionally underserved by English-first platforms. The company’s focus on Indian card games, casual games, and esports titles resonates with local preferences.
Industry Trends Shaping 2026
1. Market Consolidation: The JioHotstar merger exemplifies the trend toward consolidation as platforms seek scale to compete effectively.
2. Regional Content Dominance: Platforms investing in regional language content are seeing 96-112% growth in streams, highlighting India’s linguistic diversity.
3. Gaming Regulation: The Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Bill, 2025, which banned real-money gaming, has reshaped the gaming landscape, forcing companies to adapt their business models.
4. 5G Adoption: Widespread 5G deployment is enhancing streaming quality and enabling new interactive features like multi-angle viewing and AR/VR experiences.
5. AI Integration: From content recommendations to personalized playlists and AI-powered insights, artificial intelligence is becoming central to user experience.
6. Monetization Challenges: Despite massive user bases, Indian entertainment tech firms face challenges with low ARPU and subscription conversion rates, with over 90% of users still on free tiers.
Future Outlook
India’s entertainment tech sector is projected to double in size by 2030, with the OTT media services market alone expected to reach $3.21 billion, growing at a CAGR of 13.45%. The gaming industry is experiencing even more explosive growth, with revenue expected to surge as digital payments, 5G adoption, and Gen Z engagement drive monetization.
The competitive landscape will likely see further consolidation as companies seek the scale necessary to invest in content, technology, and rights acquisition. Platforms that successfully balance premium content with affordable pricing, leverage regional diversity, and innovate with technology will emerge as winners in India’s dynamic entertainment tech ecosystem.
As internet penetration continues to expand with 42% of India’s 1.5 billion population still to come online, the total addressable market remains enormous. The companies that can convert this massive user base into paying subscribers while maintaining engagement will define the next chapter of India’s entertainment revolution.
Conclusion
The top 10 entertainment tech firms in India represent a diverse ecosystem spanning streaming, gaming, and music. From JioHotstar’s dominant position with 500 million users to specialized players like Nazara Technologies in gaming and Spotify in music streaming, these companies are reshaping entertainment consumption patterns. As India’s digital economy continues its rapid expansion, these platforms are well-positioned to capture growth while navigating challenges of monetization, competition, and regulatory evolution. The future belongs to companies that combine technological innovation, cultural understanding, and strategic vision to serve India’s billion-plus entertainment-hungry consumers.
