JioStar's Kevin Vaz calls for a review of the regulatory burden in broadcasting

M&E growth

There is an urgent need to re-examine the regulatory environment in the media & entertainment industry to encourage innovation and competition, Kevin Vaz, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) - Entertainment, JioStar and Chairman, Media & Entertainment Committee, Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) has said.

While addressing the 25th edition of the prominent media and entertainment (M&E) conference FICCI FRAMES, taking place on October 7-8, Vaz said that he feels a sense of both pride and urgency.

"Pride in what FRAMES has catalysed - policy wins, industry growth, a creative economy that employs millions, stories that captivate billions. But urgency - because the pace of change is accelerating and this calls for a stronger collaboration from business and policymakers."

He added that one area where this urgency is most visible is in the regulatory environment.

"There are several issues that need serious re-examination, regulation being foremost among them. The regulatory burden on linear broadcasting, for instance, has created an artificial price barrier that has increased regulatory costs and prevented TV broadcasting from innovating and competing."

Vaz called for a light-touch regulatory regime and pointed out that broadcasting alone contributes nearly 40 percent to Indian M&E industry revenue. "The growth of broadcasting is therefore paramount for the overall vitality of the Indian M&E sector."

He also highlighted several trends and inflection points in the media and entertainment industry.

Kevin Vaz said unlike many western markets where digital has eroded traditional viewership, India continues to be a strong ‘AND’ market. "Both television and digital are thriving simultaneously, each adding unique value to consumers and advertisers alike. The TV ecosystem - spanning PayTV, FreeTV and Connected TV - is steadily expanding, complementing the rapid growth of digital to collectively grow the overall M&E pie."

He also said that sports consumption is at an all-time high. "While cricket dominates, football, kabaddi, and e-sports are rapidly growing, with digital platforms offering multilingual feeds, interactive stats, and immersive fan experiences. To unlock the next leap, ease-of-doing-business reforms must enable more live broadcasting from India."

Regional cinema and OTT have become global ambassadors of India’s cultural strength, Vaz said. "South Indian films dominate box office shares, while India’s films win Oscars (RRR, The Elephant Whisperers) and global acclaim at Cannes, Berlin and beyond. Co-production treaties and a revitalized National Film Development Corporation (NFDC) are powering cross-border storytelling."

He also mentioned the growth in animation, visual effects, gaming and comic sector (AVGC) which has moved from outsourcing to original Intellectual Properties (IPs), now supported by the National Centre of Excellence in Mumbai. Gaming too has become mainstream, with over 500 million users, e-sports gaining government recognition, and startups scaling globally with the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology's (MeitY) support."

India is now a trusted hub for cost-effective production, dubbing, and VFX services, with exports of content and co-productions rising steadily, Vaz said.

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