Media Market Report 2026

The media market size has grown strongly in recent years. It will grow from $2.58 trillion in 2025 to $2.76 trillion in 2026 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.1%. The growth in the historic period can be attributed to rise of cable and satellite tv, growth of print media circulation, emergence of online news portals, proliferation of mobile devices, early digital advertising adoption.

The media market size is expected to see strong growth in the next few years. It will grow to $3.74 trillion in 2030 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.9%. The growth in the forecast period can be attributed to growth of streaming services, ai-driven content personalization, expansion of social media platforms, increased demand for immersive experiences, integration of blockchain in media distribution. Major trends in the forecast period include personalized content delivery, interactive advertising, streaming platform expansion, user-generated content growth, cross-platform media integration.

The growing adoption of smartphones is anticipated to drive the expansion of the media market in the coming years. A smartphone is a handheld electronic device that integrates mobile phone and personal computing functions into a single unit. It acts as a portable computer that connects to both mobile phone networks and the internet. Smartphones have boosted mobile usage, mobile marketing, social media engagement, mobile-optimized websites, and news consumption on mobile devices, all of which have increased the demand for media and information. For example, in March 2024, according to ConsumerAffairs, a US-based consumer news and advocacy platform, smartphone ownership among Americans rose to 92% in 2023 from 86% in 2022. Furthermore, it was projected that in 2024, American adults would spend, on average, more than 4.5 hours per day on their mobile devices. Hence, the rising use of smartphones is fueling growth in the media market.

Major companies in the media market are prioritizing the development of innovative solutions, such as media networks, to boost audience engagement, simplify content distribution, and offer more precise advertising opportunities for businesses. A media network is an organized system that distributes content - including television programs, radio broadcasts, digital media, or advertisements - across multiple platforms to reach a broader audience. For example, in June 2024, United Airlines Inc., a US-based airline, introduced the United Media Network, a pioneering media platform aimed at delivering advertising and branded content directly to travelers during their journey. The network combines digital displays, in-flight entertainment, and mobile app interfaces to provide advertisers with highly targeted campaigns, passenger engagement analytics, and chances for interactive promotions. It allows brands to connect with a captive audience through personalized content, delivering better measurement and impact than traditional static advertising. This initiative reflects a strategic transformation in airline marketing, leveraging technology to enhance both the passenger experience and advertiser value.

In December 2023, Lions Gate Entertainment Corp., a US-based independent content company, acquired Entertainment One for $0.375 billion. Through this acquisition, Lionsgate aimed to enhance and expand its film and television content library, improve global distribution capabilities, and grow its presence in premium scripted and unscripted entertainment across various platforms. Entertainment One Ltd. is a Canada-based company that provides film and television production, global content financing, distribution, and owns a diverse portfolio of entertainment brands and intellectual property catering to international audiences.

Major companies operating in the media market are Alphabet Inc., Comcast Corporation, The Walt Disney Company, Netflix Inc., Sony Group Corporation, Charter Communications Inc., Bertelsmann SE & Co. KGaA, Baidu Inc., Viacom, Zee Entertainment Enterprises Limited, SUN TV Network Limited, Shanghai Media & Entertainment Limited (SMEG), D B Corp Ltd, Eros International PLC, Tencent, NetEase, Fox Corporation, Vox Media, Thomson Reuters Corporation, CBS Corporation, Discovery Communication Inc., Omnicom Group Inc., Gannett Co. Inc.

North America was the largest region in the media market in 2025. Africa is expected to be the fastest growing region in the forecast period. The regions covered in the media market report are Asia-Pacific, South East Asia, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East, Africa. The countries covered in the media market report are China, India, Japan, Australia, Indonesia, South Korea, Bangladesh, Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, Singapore, Philippines, Hong Kong, Taiwan, New Zealand, UK, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Ireland, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Sweden, Switzerland, Russia, Czech Republic, Poland, Romania, Ukraine, USA, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Chile, Argentina, Colombia, Peru, Saudi Arabia, Israel, Iran, Turkey, UAE, Egypt, Nigeria, South Africa.

The media market includes revenues earned by entities by offering television and radio programs, motion pictures, and commercials, along with video and audio recordings, games, and publications. Examples of revenues are license fees, subscriptions, and payments for advertising. The market value includes the value of related goods sold by the service provider or included within the service offering. Values in this market are ‘factory gate’ values, that is the value of goods sold by the manufacturers or creators of the goods, whether to other entities (including downstream manufacturers, wholesalers, distributors and retailers) or directly to end customers. The value of goods in this market includes related services sold by the creators of the goods.

The market value is defined as the revenues that enterprises gain from the sale of goods and/or services within the specified market and geography through sales, grants, or donations in terms of the currency (in USD unless otherwise specified).

The revenues for a specified geography are consumption values that are revenues generated by organizations in the specified geography within the market, irrespective of where they are produced. It does not include revenues from resales along the supply chain, either further along the supply chain or as part of other products.

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