iWorld
Indians don’t mind watching some ads if subscription fee is less
MUMBAI: Over the top (OTT) players have a lot to rejoice in India. A survey conducted by YouGuv and Brightcove has found that non-subscribers of OTT in the country show a higher consideration of opting for it here as compared to other APAC markets.
Despite a small sample size, the survey found that 40 per cent of India’s internet users watch OTT – both SVOD and AVOD. An interesting tidbit that was thrown up was that the mere access to mobile and content was enough to drive OTT adoption in India while other markets require promotion and trials.
Users are attracted to particular shows or movies and the availability to choose from international titles. The hunger for the latter is a key consideration for even non-users.
The common myth that Indians are not ready to pay for content is not entirely true. To see lesser advertisements, 27.1 per cent of respondents are willing to pay a higher subscription fee. 18.5 per cent of them prefer to pay a higher subscription to enjoy seamless experience without any advertisements. It indicates that the inclination towards good viewing experience is increasing in India. However, amidst the positive scenario, free streaming services as well as existing paid TV subscriptions are barriers to OTT adoption.
Niche content also plays an important role to attract subscribers for paid services. Speaking at an OTT summit, Brightcove Asia media head Greg Armshaw talked about FishFlicks, a client of Brightcove that offers recreational fishers, hunters, and 4×4 enthusiasts, access to more than 1,300 videos to meet subscribers viewing appetites. Niche content for relevant audiences is the trend rather than mass production. Opting for a hybrid model is also more monetising.
“Brands last longer than messages, campaigns and identities. They build loyalty. People are falling in love or at least making an association with what you stand for and who you are versus what business you are in,” Syntropic Systems partner Alap Ghosh commented on the importance of brand building. As brand determines acceptability, despite having great content, some platforms have poor reach. He also mentioned the importance of ambient content and the demand for family-friendly content on OTT platforms. While technology is important, brands also need to know how much they want to engineer.
Indian OTT players need to realise that while fresh content is surely needed, the appetite for movies, TV shows and international content will never be famished in India. These genres will be the ones to pull free users into subscription mode.
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Gaming
Formula 1 and Mumbai Falcons launch India’s first official F1 sim racing championship
Nationwide competition creates pathway from virtual racing to pro motorsport
MUMBAI: Formula 1 has teamed up with Mumbai Falcons Racing Limited to launch India’s first officially sanctioned F1 sim racing competition, marking a new step in the country’s growing motorsport ecosystem.
The championship, titled F1 Sim Racing India Open 2026, will offer a structured national platform for sim racers, with participants competing on the official F1 25 across multiple stages. The competition will begin with online qualifiers, followed by city-based simulator rounds, before culminating in a national final in Mumbai this November.
Open to players across PC, PlayStation 5 and Xbox, registrations for the event will begin on 30 April via the Mumbai Falcons app. The format mirrors real-world racing, featuring official circuits, team liveries and competitive structures aligned with the global series.
Formula 1 driver Narain Karthikeyan said the initiative arrives at a time when interest in the sport is surging in India, adding that a structured sim racing platform could help identify and nurture the next generation of talent.
Mumbai Falcons Racing Limited managing director Ameet Gadhoke noted that the championship aligns with the team’s long-term goal of building a strong motorsport pipeline in the country and placing Indian talent on the global stage.
The launch also reflects broader momentum in esports, especially after its recognition under India’s Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act, 2025. By bridging gaming and real-world racing, the initiative aims to offer aspiring drivers a credible entry point into professional motorsport.
With interest in Formula 1 steadily rising and conversations around its return to India gaining pace, the new championship could become a proving ground for future racing stars.
