World Audio Visual and Entertainment Summit (WAVES) 2025
Head – Digital Growth & Technology, NFDC, Ministry of Information & Broadcasting
India is one of the largest and most diversified content producers globally, with a dynamic media and entertainment (M&E) industry that spans films, television, OTT platforms, sports, and news. From Bollywood’s iconic storytelling to the growing prominence of Indian content across global digital platforms, India’s influence on the world stage is undeniable. The World Audio Visual & Entertainment Summit (WAVES) 2025 seeks to showcase this prowess while catalyzing the growth of the nation’s creative economy.
India’s Expanding Influence in the Global M&E Industry
The global M&E industry, encompassing films, TV, broadcasting, print, radio, advertising, animation, VFX, gaming, music, and live events, reached a staggering revenue of US$2.32 trillion in 2022. India, with its current market size of US$26.2 billion, has the potential to significantly increase its share. Technological advancements, coupled with the rise of OTT platforms, have dramatically expanded India’s reach, making Indian content accessible to global audiences across 130 countries. Dubbing and subtitling capabilities have further helped export Indian stories worldwide, with the potential to fuel the next wave of growth in Indian content creation.
A Vision for Global Leadership
WAVES 2025 is designed as a pivotal platform for ideas, collaboration, and innovation within the M&E industry. It will serve as a forum for India to position itself as a global leader in content creation, technology integration, and creative industry growth.
The summit will focus on:
- Positioning India as a Global Creative Economy Leader
WAVES will showcase India’s growing role in intellectual property (IP) creation for both domestic and global markets, leveraging the country’s wealth of talent and creativity. This initiative will strengthen India’s contribution to the global creative economy, driving innovation and new business opportunities. - A Platform for Global Partnerships
With the ever-expanding influence of Indian content globally, the summit will encourage industry collaborations, partnerships, and investments. India is being positioned as a business-friendly investment destination, offering modern infrastructure, a skilled workforce, and a rapidly evolving ecosystem. - Developing a Skilled Workforce for the Future
One of the core pillars of WAVES 2025 is the emphasis on building the capacity of India’s M&E infrastructure. The summit will explore strategies for developing a future-ready workforce that can meet global demands. This includes creating training programs, nurturing talent, and adopting cutting-edge technology in broadcasting, animation, gaming, and digital media.
WAVES 2025: Pillars of Focus
WAVES 2025 will highlight the following key pillars driving the growth of India’s M&E industry:
- Broadcasting & Infotainment: Exploring new frontiers in television and radio broadcasting, as well as infotainment’s evolving role in shaping public opinion.
- AVGC-XR (Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming, Comics & Extended Reality): Showcasing India’s burgeoning AVGC sector, with a focus on developing interactive entertainment and immersive experiences.
- Digital Media & Innovation: Embracing digital transformation, innovation in content distribution, and the rise of OTT platforms as game changers in the M&E landscape.
- Films: Exploring India’s film industry, from traditional Bollywood to new-age filmmakers and the opportunities for co-productions and international partnerships.
Major Focus Areas for India
India’s ambitions at WAVES 2025 are bold, aiming to:
- Amplify Voices from the Global South
WAVES 2025 will create a landmark platform to promote new thinking about media and entertainment, amplifying the voices of leaders from the Global South. India will be at the forefront of driving inclusive frameworks that foster collaboration, partnership, and growth in the M&E industry globally. - Encourage Indian IP Development
A key focus of the summit will be on designing and developing Indian intellectual properties (IPs), which are vital to fueling the country’s creative economy. Encouraging innovation in storytelling and content creation will propel India to the forefront of global IP creation. - M&E Infrastructure Development and Skilling
The summit will also prioritize building India’s M&E infrastructure, focusing on creating a skilled workforce prepared to meet global challenges. A robust skilling ecosystem is essential for ensuring that India continues to be a leading player in the global M&E sector. - Promote India’s M&E Businesses and Enterprises
WAVES 2025 will serve as a hub for showcasing India’s M&E industry, businesses, and enterprises, highlighting their growth potential and innovation. The summit will also facilitate global partnerships and collaborations, providing opportunities for quality networking and deal-making, similar to the success of international trade conventions. - Promote Government Incentives for M&E Growth
The Government of India has recently announced new incentives for film shooting, VFX, post-production, and gaming. WAVES will provide a platform to promote these incentives and attract global players, enhancing India’s appeal as an international destination for content production and technological innovation.
Driving India’s Creative Economy Forward
The World Audio Visual & Entertainment Summit 2025 is poised to be a transformative event for India’s media and entertainment landscape. By embracing technological advancements, fostering global partnerships, and encouraging innovation in content creation, WAVES 2025 will propel India into the next phase of its M&E industry leadership. This landmark event will underscore India’s potential to not only be a content powerhouse but also a global thought leader in the media and entertainment space.
Click here to know more https://wavesindia.org/.
Article Written by Tanmay Shankar
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