Indian Streaming Output Shrinks as Global Viewership Soars

The number of new Indian streaming series and seasons commissioned in 2025 fell to 145, marking the second consecutive year of decline. This production drop occurs even as viewer interest in Indian shows on IMDb has increased roughly 17-fold over the past ten years.

The discrepancy between audience demand and industry output forms the core of a new study titled “10 Years of Streaming in India. An IMDb Report 2026.” The analysis examines page views from over 250 million monthly IMDb users. It ranks the top ten Indian series for each year from 2016 to 2026. A total of 64 distinct shows filled the 110 available ranking slots.

“Mirzapur” dominated the rankings with nine appearances. The crime drama made the list every year since its launch. “Scam 1992” was the only single-season show to chart five times. Crime and thriller genres accounted for 48 of the 110 positions, though horror, romance, comedy, and drama gained traction in recent years.

Platform data reveals a shift in how content is distributed. Prime Video and Amazon MX Player combined for 34 positions across 17 series. Netflix held 21 positions across 18 series, representing the broadest range of distinct titles among the examined services. YouTube emerged as a primary incubator for new talent. Thirteen of the 64 charting series originated on the platform, and 11 were later acquired by subscription services.

Production company The Viral Fever, or TVF, showed the most sustained impact. The studio produced nine of the charting series and 17 of the Top 10 slots. This run began with “TVF Pitchers” in 2016 and extends to “Sapne vs Everyone” in the current year. The report identified Pankaj Tripathi, Ali Fazal, Vikrant Massey, Jitendra Kumar, Kapil Sharma, and Sunil Grover as key performers tied to recurring franchises.

Other actors such as Kay Kay Menon, Naveen Kasturia, and Mona Singh were noted for their versatility. Each appeared in at least five series in varied roles. The study also cited multi-hyphenate performers like Shahid Kapoor, Vijay Sethupathi, Samantha, Barun Sobti, and Karan Tacker as examples of actors transferring established screen personas to streaming formats.

Market consolidation explains the reduction in output. Commissions peaked at 202 in 2023, dropped to 169 in 2024, and reached 145 in 2025. Hindi-language shows comprised 66% of Indian streaming originals in 2025. Yaminie Patodia, head of IMDb India, stated that the report uses data to understand how a decade of streaming has reshaped audience interests.

Patodia noted that the study includes input from industry leaders such as Gaurav Gandhi of Prime Video, Gunjan Soni of YouTube, and Monika Shergill of Netflix. She said the data helps professionals make creative and business decisions. IMDb is owned by Amazon.