At the heart of India’s booming media and entertainment ecosystem, the Future of Video India 2025 conference held in Mumbai brought together over 120 leaders, creators, and policymakers in a high-powered dialogue on the road ahead for the country’s premium video and content industry.

According to an official press release, the event, hosted by the Asia Video Industry Association (AVIA), featured deep-diving sessions on regulation, storytelling, digital distribution, and monetisation. With an agenda shaped around collaboration and innovation, the conference placed India’s creative future at centre stage emphasizing not just scale, but quality and international ambition.

Opening the event, Abhay Shanker Verma, Principal Advisor (Broadcasting & Cable Services), TRAI, laid out a compelling vision for regulatory evolution. He advocated for light-touch policies and a level playing field to unlock creativity and growth across platforms. Verma also reiterated India’s commitment to becoming a global content creation hub, citing the formation of the Indian Institute of Creative Technology (IICT), which will help equip young Indian creators for a digitally driven future.

The conference was in partnership with the inaugural World Audio Visual & Entertainment Summit (WAVES), setting the tone for India’s intent to become a global content powerhouse.

The industry’s top voices followed with bold declarations. Gaurav Banerjee, MD & CEO of Sony Pictures Networks India (SPNI), said the “days of mediocre content is coming to an end” as he outlined SPNI’s transition from a traditional broadcaster to a modern content studio. He emphasized the power of unique, authentic storytelling, and the need to monetise across both television and digital to stay future-ready. He also spotlighted the transformative potential of artificial intelligence — not as a threat, but as a creative and safety tool for the industry.

Adding to the optimism, Vivek Couto, Managing & Executive Director of Media Partners Asia, shared insights on the shifting landscape of India’s premium video sector. While advertising saw challenges in the past year, Couto was confident in India’s position as “the most accessible growth opportunity in the world.” He forecasted that India’s Connected TV (CTV) space would drive fresh momentum for advertisers, noting a robust pie available for the top 7 to 8 players in the market.

Amazon’s Kelly Day, Vice President and Head of International for Prime Video, spoke about their mission to turn the platform into a full-spectrum entertainment hub. Day stressed that Prime Video is driven by the ambition to be the viewer’s first choice, offering a vast and varied content library tailored to Indian tastes.

Monika Shergill, VP – Content at Netflix India, echoed similar sentiments, underlining the streamer’s focus on creative excellence, emotional storytelling, and consistency. She described India as a priority market for Netflix, with a growing slate aimed not just at local audiences, but with the potential to travel globally.

JioStar’s Chief Marketing Officer, Sushant Sreeram, spoke of scaling up to “1 billion screens” with a strategy rooted in personalised content, platform innovation, and deep emotional resonance with users. The ambition, he said, required a complete reimagination of how the industry views marketing, technology, and engagement.

A critical section of the event centred on the evolving role of premium video advertising. Industry leaders pointed to CTV as the next frontier. Vineet Rastogi (INVIDI) noted that it wasn’t about choosing between linear and streaming, but finding synergy between them. Shemaroo’s Saurabh Srivastava advocated for a mindset shift to fully tap into CTV’s targeted offerings, while Clem Birdsall (Publica by IAS) highlighted the promise of programmatic over direct buying.

However, Sony LIV’s Ranjana Mangla warned that challenges like brand measurement and transparency persist. Luke Smith of PubMatic closed the conversation by encouraging advertisers to see CTV as an opportunity that spans the full marketing funnel — not just brand awareness.

Bringing the conference to a close, Vynsley Fernandes, Whole-time Director, Hinduja Global Solutions & CEO, NXTDIGITAL, outlined a robust digital roadmap. His focus: broadband expansion, satellite initiatives, and ensuring access in India’s remotest corners — a fitting conclusion to a day dedicated to transformation and future-readiness.

Future of Video India 2025 was supported by Gold Sponsor Publica by IAS and Silver Sponsors INVIDI, MEASAT, and PubMatic. As India repositions itself in the global content value chain, the conversations at WAVES reflect a confident industry gearing up for its next leap.