17% growth forecast for media sector

Though television remained the largest segment, digital media cemented its position as a strong number two segment followed by a resurgent print. Digital media grew the most at Rs 6,800 cr and consequently, increased its contribution to the M&E sector from 16% in 2019 to 19% in 2021

New Delhi: The Indian advertising sector is expected to grow with a CAGR of 12 per cent and should reach Rs1 lakh crore revenue by 2024, said a joint report by industry body Ficci and consultancy firm EY. The Indian Media and Entertainment sector revenue grew 16.4 per cent to Rs1.61 lakh crore ($21.5 billion) in 2021, said the report titled 'Tuning into consumer - Indian M&E rebounds with a customer-centric approach'. "We expect the M&E sector to grow 17 per cent in 2022 to reach Rs1.89 lakh crore ($25.2 billion) and recover its 2019 pre-pandemic levels, then grow at a CAGR of 11 per cent to reach Rs 2.32 lakh crore ($30.9 billion) by 2024," it said.

Though television remained the largest segment, digital media cemented its position as a strong number two segment followed by a resurgent print, it added. "Digital media grew the most at Rs 6,800 crore and consequently, increased its contribution to the M&E sector from 16 per cent in 2019 to 19 per cent in 2021," it said.

The share of traditional media which includes television, print, filmed entertainment, OOH, music, radio stood at 68 per cent of Media & Entertainment sector revenues in 2021, which was down from 75 per cent in 2019, it added. In 2021, except 'in-cinema' advertising and TV subscription, all segments in the Media & Entertainment grew. While talking about the advertising sector, the report said despite Covid-19 disruptions, advertising revenues in India bounced-back from a 29 per cent degrowth in 2020 to a growth of 25 per cent in 2021. "The highest growth was in television advertising of Rs 6,200 crore, followed by digital advertising of Rs 5,500 crore and then of Rs 2,900 crore from a resilient print. By 2024, India's advertising market should reach Rs 1 lakh crore," the EY-FICCI report said. Moreover, the report also expects the share of digital advertising to reach 41 per cent in 2024. Digital media comprised 24 per cent of total ad spends in 2019, which has now increased to 33 per cent in 2021.

In 2021, the advertising sector revenue was at Rs74,600 crore in 2021 and is expected to have around 16 per cent growth this year. "The growth momentum is expected to continue in 2022 with a projected growth rate of 16 per cent, taking overall advertising revenue to Rs 86,500 crore," it added. It was at Rs 79,500 crore in the pre-pandemic year of 2019. "They are now barely 6 per cent short of their 2019 numbers," the report added. EY conducted a survey of 50 marketers across 10 sectors in February 2022 and had found over 80 per cent of them positive about growth in consumer spending. This was led by several factors such as IPL media rights sale in 2022, increase in the number of unicorns and continued PE funding and launches in the auto sector. Moreover FMCG, education and media-entertainment taking over online video and Pharma and e-commerce boom post-Covid-19 is also a key factor. Marketers remained bullish on events spends too, it added.