India’s streaming market is attracting two new entrants with different strategies: Tiger TV is targeting Hindi- and Punjabi-speaking audiences, while Brew TV aims to give independent filmmakers a dedicated distribution platform. Their entry comes as India’s OTT audience expands, but competition for subscriptions, advertising revenue, and viewer attention remains intense.
Tiger TV, launched by Lionsgate Play founder Rohit Jain on October 15, 2026, is targeting 10 million subscribers and ₹500 crore in annual recurring revenue within three years. Brew TV, founded by filmmaker Ankur Singla, is focused on feature films, short films, and newer formats such as vertical cinema. Both are betting that a more focused content offering can stand out in a market dominated by large streaming services.
Key Takeaways
- Tiger TV launched on October 15, 2026, with a focus on Hindi and Punjabi entertainment.
- The platform plans to build a content intellectual property portfolio worth more than ₹500 crore over three years.
- Tiger TV’s India subscription plans cost ₹349 per quarter or ₹799 per year.
- Brew TV is designed to help independent filmmakers distribute feature films, shorts, shows, and vertical video content.
- India’s OTT audience reached an estimated 665 million in 2026, while connected TV reached 207 million.
- The main challenge for new platforms is converting audience interest into recurring revenue in a market with more than 50 streaming players.
Tiger TV Targets Hindi and Punjabi Audiences
Tiger TV is positioning itself as a dedicated destination for Hindi and Punjabi entertainment rather than simply another language category inside an existing streaming service.
The platform was launched by Rohit Jain, founder and CEO of Lionsgate Play. It aims to serve audiences in India and international markets with significant Hindi- and Punjabi-speaking communities.
Tiger TV plans to offer more than 50 title premieres during its first year and build a portfolio of content intellectual property worth over ₹500 crore across three years. Its strategy includes original programming, exclusive titles, and a regular schedule of new releases.
The Punjabi lineup includes titles such as Laal Salaam, Rubb Rakha, Jahankilla, Hanji Kaun, and Tu Te Punjab. Its Hindi slate includes Mantu Bhaiya Ki Dili Dezire, The Taj Story, and Aakhri Sawal. The company has also unveiled Daanav, a Hindi crime thriller featuring Angad Bedi and Pooja Gor.
Tiger TV’s Subscription Plans
| Plan or target | Details |
|---|---|
| Quarterly subscription in India | ₹349 |
| Annual subscription in India | ₹799 |
| Planned first-year premieres | More than 50 titles |
| Planned content IP portfolio | Over ₹500 crore in three years |
| Subscriber target | 10 million within three years |
| Annual recurring revenue target | ₹500 crore within three years |
| Launch markets | 12 markets |
The company is also targeting Hindi- and Punjabi-speaking households outside India. Tiger TV is available through the Lionsgate Play app across Asia and through a standalone app in markets including the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.
The international strategy gives the platform access to audiences who may be willing to pay for entertainment in their preferred languages, including viewers who want to remain connected to Indian cinema and culture.
Brew TV Wants to Solve Independent Film Distribution
Brew TV is entering the market with a different proposition. Rather than concentrating on a particular language, the platform aims to help independent filmmakers reach audiences through a dedicated distribution channel.
Founded by filmmaker Ankur Singla, Brew TV is focused on independent feature films, short films, shows, and vertical cinema. The latter format, typically designed for viewing on a smartphone in a vertical orientation, has gained attention as audiences consume more short-form video.
Singla has argued that independent film distribution remains difficult. His experience releasing Ghich Pich in theatres informed Brew TV’s mission to help filmmakers distribute their work more widely.
For independent creators, the challenge often extends beyond making a film. They also need access to distribution, marketing, discoverability, and a reliable way to reach paying viewers. A specialist platform could help address some of those obstacles if it attracts enough viewers and offers workable commercial terms.
However, distribution access does not automatically guarantee revenue. Brew TV will need to establish how it selects content, attracts audiences, compensates creators, and generates enough income to support its operations.
The platform’s precise subscription pricing, audience targets, and financial projections were not detailed in the reports surrounding the announcement.
India’s OTT Market Is Growing but Increasingly Competitive
The entry of Tiger TV and Brew TV comes amid substantial growth in India’s digital video audience.
According to Ormax Media estimates cited by The Economic Times, India’s OTT audience reached 665 million in 2026, while its connected-TV audience stood at 207 million. FICCI-EY estimates put the Indian OTT market’s revenue at more than ₹27,000 crore in 2025.
Media Partners Asia estimated India’s online video spending at $5 billion in 2025, with online video accounting for 46% of total content spending, compared with 42% for traditional television.
These figures show the scale of the opportunity, but they do not mean every streaming platform can become profitable. Viewers may use multiple services, switch between free and paid content, or cancel subscriptions when a platform lacks attractive new releases.
India’s OTT market has more than 50 players, including JioHotstar, Netflix, and Amazon Prime Video. Smaller platforms must find a specific reason for audiences to choose them rather than rely entirely on the overall growth of streaming.
Why Audience Growth Does Not Guarantee Profitability
| Market factor | Opportunity | Challenge |
|---|---|---|
| Large OTT audience | Broad potential reach | Viewers are spread across many services |
| Connected-TV growth | More opportunities for long-form viewing | Competition for premium-screen time |
| Regional-language content | Strong cultural and language connections | Consistent investment in quality programming is needed |
| Independent films | Access to stories beyond mainstream releases | Discovery and marketing can be difficult |
| Subscription revenue | Recurring income from loyal users | Price sensitivity and subscription cancellations |
One of the industry’s most persistent problems is average revenue per user, or ARPU. A platform may attract millions of viewers but still struggle financially if users pay little, watch infrequently, or do not renew.
This makes content costs, customer acquisition, and subscription retention critical to the success of new entrants.
How Tiger TV and Brew TV Differ
Although both platforms are entering India’s crowded streaming market, they are addressing different parts of the entertainment ecosystem.
Tiger TV is primarily a consumer-facing entertainment service built around Hindi and Punjabi content. Its strategy depends on assembling an appealing catalogue, releasing new titles regularly, and converting language-based interest into paid subscriptions.
Brew TV is focused on the distribution side of filmmaking. Its opportunity lies in making independent films and alternative formats easier to access, while creating a viable business model for filmmakers and the platform itself.
Tiger TV’s ₹500 crore content portfolio target and its subscriber and revenue ambitions provide measurable goals for its business strategy. Brew TV’s public positioning, by contrast, centres on distribution and access for independent creators; comparable financial targets have not been publicly detailed in the reports reviewed.
The distinction is important because the two platforms will not necessarily compete for the same audience in every category. They may also face different costs and commercial risks. A curated entertainment service needs a steady flow of titles that subscribers value, while a distribution platform must balance creator relationships, catalogue quality, discoverability, and monetisation.
What New OTT Platforms Must Get Right
1. Give viewers a clear reason to subscribe
A new service needs more than a large catalogue. It needs content that audiences cannot easily find elsewhere, whether through original productions, exclusive releases, regional storytelling, or access to independent films.
Tiger TV is relying on its Hindi and Punjabi focus. Brew TV is trying to differentiate itself through independent filmmaking and alternative video formats.
2. Control content and marketing costs
Producing or acquiring exclusive content can be expensive. Platforms must balance investment in programming with their ability to attract and retain paying subscribers.
Tiger TV’s content investment ambitions signal a commitment to building a recognisable catalogue, but the commercial outcome will depend on viewing demand and subscription performance.
3. Build distribution and discoverability
Even strong films can struggle if viewers do not know they exist. Partnerships, recommendations, marketing, and a simple viewing experience can help smaller services reach audiences.
For Brew TV, discoverability will be especially important because independent filmmakers often lack the promotional budgets available to major studios.
4. Find sustainable revenue models
Subscription fees are only one possible source of income. Depending on their business models, platforms may also explore advertising, licensing, distribution partnerships, or other commercial arrangements. The suitability of each option will depend on audience behaviour and the costs of operating the service.
The Bigger Picture
The launch of Tiger TV and Brew TV reflects a broader shift in India’s streaming industry from general-purpose catalogues toward more specialised propositions. Language-focused services can build stronger connections with particular audiences, while creator-focused platforms can offer alternatives to traditional distribution channels.
Yet the market’s large audience is not a guarantee of success. With more than 50 platforms competing for attention, each new entrant must prove that its content or service solves a distinct problem. Tiger TV needs to turn its Hindi and Punjabi programming into repeat subscriptions, while Brew TV needs to help independent films find audiences and generate sustainable returns for creators.
FAQs
What is Tiger TV?
Tiger TV is a streaming platform launched by Lionsgate Play founder Rohit Jain on October 15, 2026. It focuses on Hindi and Punjabi entertainment and plans to offer more than 50 title premieres in its first year.
How much does Tiger TV cost in India?
Tiger TV’s announced subscription plans cost ₹349 for three months or ₹799 for one year.
What is Brew TV?
Brew TV is a platform founded by filmmaker Ankur Singla to help independent filmmakers distribute feature films, short films, shows, and vertical cinema.
Why is it difficult for new OTT platforms to succeed in India?
India has a large streaming audience, but viewers have many competing services to choose from. New platforms must offer distinctive content, control operating and content costs, attract paying subscribers, and retain them over time.
Looking Ahead
Tiger TV’s progress will depend on whether it can turn its language-focused catalogue and international distribution into sustained subscriber growth. Its stated targets of 10 million subscribers and ₹500 crore in annual recurring revenue within three years will provide benchmarks against which its performance can be assessed, although the company has yet to demonstrate those outcomes.
For Brew TV, the key test will be whether independent filmmakers can use the platform to reach more viewers and build viable distribution revenues. Both launches highlight the opportunities in India’s expanding streaming ecosystem, but their long-term prospects will depend on execution, audience loyalty, and a business model that can withstand intense competition.
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