•Reliance Industries is integrating AI into its media and entertainment strategy to drive the next phase of growth across streaming, television, and digital content.
•The company’s media vertical reported Rs 34,917 crore in operational revenue in FY26, nearly doubling from Rs 17,762 crore the previous year.
•AI is being embedded into core operations to enhance content creation, audience engagement, and consumer experience, with a focus on personalization and efficiency.
•JioStar, formed from the merger with Disney India, holds a 48% market share in the Hindi GEC pay-TV segment and its sports network reaches over a billion screens annually.
•Reliance’s OTT platform recorded an average of 451 million monthly active users during FY26, reflecting strong digital adoption.
•The company is diversifying monetization beyond ads and subscriptions, while addressing challenges like rising content costs and audience fragmentation with multi-format strategies.
Mumbai-based conglomerate Reliance Industries has placed artificial intelligence (AI) at the core of its media and entertainment strategy, positioning itself to drive the next wave of growth across streaming platforms, television, and digital content. The move reflects a broader shift toward AI-driven content creation, audience engagement, and operational efficiency within India’s largest media and entertainment ecosystem. In its latest annual report, the company—led by billionaire Mukesh Ambani—emphasized AI’s transformative potential, stating that it will redefine the future of entertainment from script to screen.
The media and entertainment vertical of Reliance—which includes JioStar, Jio Studios, and Network18—reported operational revenue of Rs 34,917 crore in fiscal year 2025-26 (FY26), more than doubling from Rs 17,762 crore in the previous year. This surge underscores the rapid expansion of Reliance’s media footprint amid India’s growing digital consumption trends. The company views AI not merely as a tool for efficiency but as a foundational element that will reshape content creation, enhance fan engagement, and reimagine the entire entertainment value chain. “AI will define the next era of entertainment and, as India's largest media & entertainment platform, Reliance has the responsibility to lead this transformation—reimagining everything from script to screen and from idea to experience,” the company stated in its report.
AI integration is being embedded across core operations to improve content creation and production processes, streamline audience engagement, and enhance consumer experiences. Reliance highlighted that AI-led optimizations could significantly boost operational efficiency, while the integration of commerce into streaming platforms is expected to unlock new monetization avenues. Additionally, the company is investing in stronger personalization systems to deliver tailored content experiences to users, aligning with the rising demand for customized entertainment across devices and formats.
A key strategic pillar is strengthening leadership in large-screen entertainment while accelerating the transition from traditional linear television to connected TVs. Reliance is also expanding its mobile-focused offerings through interactive formats, voice-enabled features, and vertical video content—trends increasingly favored by younger, digital-native audiences. “Focus remains on strengthening leadership on the large screen, enabling the transition from linear to connected TVs, differentiating the mobile offering through interactivity, voice and vertical video, and enhancing the personalisation engine,” the report noted.
JioStar, the entity formed after the merger of Reliance’s media business with Walt Disney’s India operations, will continue to prioritize sports and entertainment programming across platforms. According to the annual report, JioStar commands a 48% market share in the Hindi general entertainment channel (GEC) pay-TV segment and its sports network reaches over a billion screens through more than 250 days of live sports coverage annually. Furthermore, Reliance’s over-the-top (OTT) platform achieved an average of 451 million monthly active users during FY26, reflecting the rapid adoption of digital streaming in India.
Looking ahead, Reliance is actively diversifying its monetization models beyond traditional advertising and subscription revenue streams. However, the company also flagged significant challenges, including rising content costs and audience fragmentation across multiple platforms. To address these, Reliance is adopting platform-agnostic and multi-format content strategies to maintain relevance and engagement across diverse consumer segments.
By embedding AI into the heart of its operations and scaling digital platforms, Reliance Industries is positioning itself as a leader in India’s fast-evolving media landscape, with ambitions to redefine how audiences consume entertainment in the digital age.
