Asian Content Investment to Top $15 Billion in 2026, Led by Streaming and Local Films
Media Partners Asia projects that content spending across seven major Asian markets will reach $15.1 billion this year, up from $14.8 billion in 2025. The growth is driven by streaming and local film, while television budgets decline. The firm expects spending to rise to $15.4 billion by 2031.
Media Partners Asia's latest forecast tracks content investment across seven major Asian territories, with the projected $15.1 billion figure marking a modest but steady upward trajectory. The report identifies streaming platforms and locally produced films as the primary engines of this growth, while traditional television budgets are expected to contract further over the forecast period through 2031.
Currently, television still commands the largest share of spending at roughly 60 percent, with online video holding 30 percent and film just 10 percent. However, the report's emphasis on streaming and film as the sole sources of incremental growth signals a structural shift in how Asian content is financed, produced, and distributed across the region.
This investment shift could reshape viewing habits across Asia, as audiences may see a wider array of local films and streaming originals while traditional TV offerings potentially diminish. For regional creators and production houses, the growing streaming and film budgets may open new opportunities, though the decline in television spending could affect broadcast-sector employment and legacy media business models.