Romania's media and entertainment industry is projected to grow at an average annual rate of around 2% between 2025 and 2029, reaching a total value of EUR 4.91 billion by the end of the period, according to the latest edition of the PwC Global Telecommunications, Entertainment & Media Outlook 2025-2029.

According to a press release sent by the consultancy firm, the sector is expected to generate EUR 4.566 billion in revenue this year, marking a year-on-year increase of approximately 3% compared to 2024.

'The media and entertainment industry in Romania is growing at a steady pace, with digital segments — particularly online advertising and streaming services — driving most of the growth. However, economic pressures, inflation, and changing consumer behavior are putting strain on spending. This raises the need for relevant and accessible content offerings in an environment where advertising is becoming the main revenue stream, and artificial intelligence is reshaping the rules of the game,' said Florin Deaconescu, Partner and Technology, Media & Telecom (TMT) Leader at PwC Romania.

This year's report analyzes 10 segments of Romania's media and entertainment sector, highlighting internet advertising, video games, and over-the-top (OTT) streaming services as the fastest-growing areas.

Digital advertising is expected to see the most rapid growth, with revenues increasing from EUR 297 million in 2025 to EUR 387 million by 2029, representing a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.5%.

Online video ads will lead the category, followed by paid search and classified ads. While global tech giants like Google and Meta continue to dominate the market, they are facing increased scrutiny under the EU's Digital Services Act and Digital Markets Act, which aim to safeguard competition and user rights.

Video games and esports are forecast to grow at a CAGR of 8.8%, with revenues rising from EUR 298 million in 2025 to EUR 425 million in 2029. Most of this income will come from casual and social gaming, as well as in-game advertising.

The OTT streaming market, which includes services like Netflix, Disney+, and Prime Video, is projected to expand by about 7% annually, reaching EUR 338 million by 2029, up from EUR 268 million in 2025. Subscription-based platforms will remain dominant, while ad-supported video-on-demand (AVOD) services are expected to have a limited presence.

Romania's film industry will also grow steadily, with a projected 5% annual increase in revenues — from EUR 68 million in 2025 to EUR 79 million in 2029. The local market will continue to benefit from strong domestic productions such as Buzz House The Movie, which performed well at the box office. In total, 228 films were released in Romania in 2024, up from 214 the previous year.

The mobile and fixed telecom services segment is expected to remain relatively stable, with revenues reaching EUR 2.46 billion by 2029 compared to EUR 2.41 billion in 2025. Notably, 5G services are expected to gain significant ground, becoming the majority of mobile connections.

Business-to-business (B2B) media will experience moderate growth, with total revenues projected to reach EUR 216 million by 2029, driven by demand for business information and trade events.

Outdoor advertising is set to grow from EUR 49 million in 2025 to EUR 58 million in 2029, with digital out-of-home (DOOH) formats capturing an increasingly large share of the market.

Traditional television revenues are expected to remain stable at around EUR 920 million in both 2025 and 2026, supported by steady income from TV subscriptions and multichannel advertising.

Music, radio, and podcasting will see consistent growth of around 5% annually, reaching EUR 52 million by 2029, up from EUR 43 million in 2025. Streaming services and radio advertising will drive most of the revenue, with major music festivals contributing significantly to the live music segment.

The print and digital publishing market is expected to remain stable at around EUR 104 million annually throughout the forecast period, with growth in digital media offsetting declines in traditional print. AGERPRES (RO - writing by: George Banciulea; EN - writing by: Simona Iacob)