iWorld
2019 to see growth of fibre-connected smart TV: SonyLIV’s Uday Sodhi
MUMBAI: SonyLIV, one of the first movers in the Indian OTT market recently completed six years. It is undeniable that affordability of smartphones and fall in data pricing as well as the availability of 4G played catalysts to the growth of both the industry and SonyLIV. However, Sony Pictures Networks India digital business head Uday Sodhi thinks 2019 will be the year of smart TVs connected with fibre.
“What’s going to happen in 2019 is very interesting from an infrastructure perspective. While on the one end we are still seeing a large part of consumption happening on mobile android platforms, my guess is a lot of this is going to move very quickly from mobile, WiFi networks to smart TVs connected with fibre. I think that’s the real swing we will see going forward,” Sodhi commented.
He said that non-mobile categories are starting to pick up with Xiaomi being a disruptor in the category. He also added that there are about 30-40 million television sets which are all set to become smart TVs through devices like Fire TV Stick and Chromecast. Apart from these, Sodhi also mentioned the effort by MSOs to launch hybrid set-top boxes. Hence, these all factors will leave a multiplied effect on content consumption.
“While we will see growth in consumers and that consumer’s growth will double in the next 3-4 years, the amount of consumption and time spent is probably going to grow faster than the consumer adoption,” he added.
The video-on-demand platform has also unveiled a State of Digital Entertainment 2018 report on the occasion of its six year anniversary. According to the report, the platform has witnessed a rise of seven times in total time spent on the platform. The OTT player grew by three times in terms of MAUs (monthly active users) in 2018 compared to the previous year. The report also added that the platform recorded higher growth from non-metro areas.
FIFA World Cup, India’s cricket tour of Australia and India’s cricket tour of England were the top three successful sports events of the year for the platform by attracting 70 million, 50 million and 30 million viewers respectively.
iWorld
Prime Video bets big on India with global originals, films and franchise expansion
Execs highlight scale, travelability and new IP bets as India anchors global strategy
MUMBAI: At Prime Video Presents 2026, the message was clear and confident. India is not just part of the plan, it is central to it.
In a lively fireside chat hosted by filmmaker Karan Johar, Kelly Day, vice president of prime video and amazon mgm studios international, Nicole Clemens, vice president of international originals, and Gaurav Gandhi, vice president for Apac and Anz, laid out an ambitious roadmap. Think bigger stories, wider reach and a sharper focus on building franchises that travel.
Kelly Day, a regular visitor to India, set the tone early. Calling the country “one of the most important markets globally”, she pointed to the sheer scale and diversity of audiences as a driving force behind Prime Video’s growth. Indian Originals, she said, are not just local hits but global engines powering subscriptions and engagement.
That global appeal is already visible. According to Clemens, around 25 percent of viewership for Indian content now comes from outside the country. Shows rooted deeply in local culture are finding fans worldwide, proving that specificity, when paired with universal themes, travels well. From gritty dramas to sharp thrillers, Indian storytelling is increasingly crossing borders with ease.
Clemens, who joined recently to lead international originals, was particularly upbeat about India’s creative range. She highlighted a growing slate of over 100 shows in development and production, with more than 60 percent returning for multiple seasons. For her, the formula is simple. Authentic stories, told well, resonate everywhere.
Adding to the buzz, she teased new and returning titles, alongside a fresh superhero universe, the Kalyug Warriors. It signals a push into new genres while doubling down on familiar fan favourites.
If content is king, distribution is the clever courtier. Day outlined Prime Video’s layered business model in India, which blends subscription, rentals, add on channels and ad supported viewing through Amazon MX Player. The idea is straightforward. Give viewers choice, whether they want premium, free or pay per view.
India, she noted, has also become a testing ground for innovation. Tiered pricing, mobile only plans and language diversity have all been sharpened here before being exported to other markets. In many ways, the India playbook is now influencing global strategy.
For Gaurav Gandhi, the next chapter is about scale with intent. He outlined four priorities. Making Prime Video more accessible, pushing Indian content globally, building stronger franchises and supercharging the films business.
On films, the platform is moving beyond licensing into co productions and now theatrical releases in partnership with amazon mgm studios. These films will eventually stream on Prime Video, creating a full circle from cinema halls to living rooms across 240 countries.
Franchise building remains another key pillar. With hits like The Family Man, Mirzapur and Panchayat already enjoying multi season success, the focus is now on creating the next wave of enduring IP. Newer titles are already lining up for second seasons, signalling a steady pipeline.
What stood out through the conversation was a shared belief. Streaming in India is still in its early innings, and the runway is long. With a mix of local flavour and global ambition, Prime Video is betting that stories from India will not just stay at home, but travel far and wide.
Or as the executives seemed to suggest, the world is watching and India has plenty more to show.
