A new report predicts that the Irish Entertainment & Media (E&M) industry is set to grow at an annual rate of 3.3% up to 2029 and will reach a value of €7.5 billion, up from €6.4 billion last year.
PwC said the growth is mainly fuelled by increasing connectivity, continued growth in internet advertising and video on demand and compares to Irish growth of 2.9% for last year for the five years to 2028.
Globally, the Entertainment & Media industry is expected to grow at a rate of 3.7%, which will see the industry's global revenues reach €3 trillion in 2029, up from €2.5 trillion in 2024.
PwC published its latest Global Entertainment & Media Outlook 2025-2029 today - the 26th annual analysis and forecast of E&M spending by consumers and advertisers across 54 countries and territories.
It includes Ireland’s E&M industry and looks at sectors such as cinema, connectivity service, internet advertising, music, radio and podcasts, newspapers, consumer magazines and books. out-of-home (OOH) advertising; video-on-demand (VOD) as well as traditional TV and video games.
PwC said that despite economic uncertainty, slower growth in consumer spending and heightened competition both domestically and internationally, the Irish E&M industry has shown steady growth, with total revenues rising 3% from €6.2 billion in 2023 to €6.4 billion in 2024.
Amy Ball, Partner, PwC Ireland Entertainment & Media Practice, said that as the E&M industry continues to be impacted by broader economic uncertainty and slower consumer spending, the Irish E&M industry continues to show steady growth and resilience.
"Advertising is emerging as the leading powerhouse of the Irish entertainment and media industry’s revenues – a transformation expected to continue as AI transforms delivery models, democratises content production, serves highly curated content experiences and reduces barriers to entry," she said.
"The E&M industry has always been at the forefront of technological innovation, but companies will need to remain nimble and proactive to embrace the future and satisfy consumers in an ecosystem that rewards creativity and tailored content," she added.
