Irish entertainment and media sector to grow to €8.2bn by 2030

PwC report says internet advertising and video-on-demand are among the factors driving growth in the sector

Video on demand subscription engagement remained strong, with 2.4m subscriptions recorded in 2025 and this is expected to grow to 2.7m by 2030. Stock picture

The value of Ireland’s entertainment and media landscape is projected to grow to €8.2bn by the year to 2030, from €7bn last year, driven largely by service connectivity, internet advertising, and video-on-demand, a new report by PwC has said.

In its latest global entertainment and media outlook, which looked at spending in the sector out to the end of the decade in 53 countries and territories, the company said the Irish entertainment and media industry is set to grow by 3.1% annually to 2030 — slightly below the global average of 3.4%.

The outlook said Ireland’s entertainment and media landscape includes sectors such as cinema; connectivity service; internet advertising; music, radio, and podcasts; newspapers, consumer magazines and books; out-of-home advertising; video-on-demand; traditional TV, and video games.

The report said internet advertising revenues are expected to reach €1.9bn in 2030 — representing an annual growth rate of 7.6%.

Live music ticket sales are expected to expand more moderately at an annual growth rate of 1.8%.

Partner at PwC Ireland Amy Ball said that “advertising continues to remain a powerhouse driving the global entertainment and media industry’s revenues”.

“As competition intensifies and consumer expectations evolve, businesses must think beyond standalone products and services.

”Success will increasingly depend on building connected ecosystems, creating value through partnerships and delivering experiences that customers cannot easily find elsewhere.”

Other major growth drivers for the sector includes video on demand, which is expected to see annual growth of 5.1%, reaching €428m by 2030.

In Ireland, subscription video on demand was the largest revenue stream in 2025, generating €280m, followed by advertising video on demand at €30m and transactional video on demand including one-off purchases or rentals of films or series from digital platforms, at €25m.

Video on demand subscription engagement remained strong, with 2.4m subscriptions recorded in 2025, and this is expected to grow to 2.7m by 2030, while annual revenue per subscription is expected to rise from €116.10 to €131.58.

PwC stated: “As subscriber numbers are expected to grow more slowly in the years ahead, it suggests that future growth will come from strengthening
relationships with existing subscribers and increasing the value of each subscription, rather than relying on rapid growth in customer numbers.

“By 2030, growth in Ireland is expected to be led primarily by subscription video on demand, which is forecast to reach €358m, and advertising video on demand, which is projected to generate €46m.”

This is all going to be enabled by growing service connectively — including fixed and mobile internet — which is forecast to grow by 2.2% annually. The country’s mobile market is expected to see 5G subscriptions from 6m this year to 11m in 2030 while 4G subscriptions decline.

Director at PwC Ireland entertainment and media practice, Naomi Ryan, said: “Demand for streaming services remains strong, live experiences continue to perform well, and 5G is accelerating how audiences access content.

“As markets mature, future growth will increasingly come from building deeper customer relationships, delivering more relevant experiences, and creating greater value for existing audiences.”

Ireland’s in-person experiences category, combining box office, live music ticket sales, and trade shows, generated €310m in 2025, and is forecast to reach €362m by 2030, representing a 3.2% CAGR.

“This is broadly in line with the overall Irish entertainment and media market growth of 3.1%.

“Despite a decline of 1.1% in 2025, the medium-term outlook remains positive: box office and trade shows are expected to grow at 4.4% and 4.3%, respectively, while live music ticket sales are expected to expand more moderately at 1.8%,” PwC stated.

“This indicates resilient demand for physical experiences, with cinema recovery and trade-show activity providing most of the category’s growth momentum.”