PwC forecasts global media and entertainment revenue of $4.2 trillion by 2030

Nicosia, Cyprus. The global entertainment and media industry is projected to generate $4.2 trillion in revenue by 2030, driven by AI-powered advertising and continued demand for live experiences, according to PwC.

The firm forecasts average annual growth of 3.4 per cent, adding about $600 billion in revenue by the end of the decade.

Advertising growth

PwC’s Global Entertainment & Media Outlook 2026–2030 covers 12 sectors across 53 countries and territories. It said digital ecosystems would drive most of the industry’s expansion.

Advertising revenue exceeded $1 trillion for the first time in 2025 and is forecast to reach $1.4 trillion by 2030, representing average annual growth of 5.6 per cent.

PwC said AI-powered, real-time personalisation would support the increase by allowing advertisers to target audiences more precisely and charge higher rates for every thousand impressions.

Internet advertising, including spending on social media, online video and other digital formats, grew 12.2 per cent to $755.6 billion in 2025. Revenue in the segment is projected to rise by an average of 7.2 per cent annually through 2030.

Consumer spending and connectivity

Advertising revenue is forecast to overtake consumer spending in 2026. Consumer spending is expected to grow by 2.5 per cent annually, while connectivity revenue, covering payments for internet access, is projected to increase more slowly.

Connectivity will remain the largest of the industry’s three main segments, despite projected annual growth of 2.3 per cent. Its revenue is expected to rise from $1.3 trillion in 2025 to $1.5 trillion in 2030.

Cinema market recovery

The global cinema market is continuing to recover from pandemic disruption, with box office revenue forecast to grow by 3.5 per cent annually to reach $39.5 billion in 2030, close to its pre-pandemic peak.

The recovery is expected to vary between regions. Asia-Pacific box office revenue is projected to increase from $13.8 billion in 2025 to about $17 billion in 2030, an annual growth rate of 4.3 per cent.

Revenue across Europe, the Middle East and Africa is forecast to rise from $8.6 billion to around $10.1 billion over the same period, while North American revenue is expected to increase from $8.7 billion to approximately $9.9 billion.