Streaming services and telcos: A match made in heaven...for now

At the moment, telecom companies are bundling streaming services such as Eros Now and Netflix with data packs. This drives data consumption for telcos and helps streaming platforms gain viewers. But the current arrangement isn’t sustainable. How will it evolve?

Eros and other video streaming platforms are growing their paid subscriber base through partnerships with telecom operators

Eros, for example, grew its paid subscriber base from 100,000 to 10.1 million in the past three years

Currently, it is a symbiotic relationship where video streaming is increasing data consumption and telcos cover the costs

But newer business models have to emerge as this honeymoon period won't last forever

It’s 5.30PM on Thursday, 23 August, but the offices of film production house Eros International in Andheri, Mumbai, are buzzing with activity. Meetings are still being held. Calls are being made. Tea is being served. This is unusual in Mumbai, where most office-going people leave their desks at this time to avoid the rush hour. But today isn’t business as usual. Eros is announcing its financial results to the Nasdaq Stock Exchange the following day.

AUTHOR

Shashidhar KJ

Shashidhar has been a journalist for over six years and has worked with The Times of India, The Financial Express and MediaNama, his last assignment. He is a fine bloke, and by that, I mean unusually quiet. Over the years, Shashidhar has written on several subjects. Banking, startups and technology, media, and also financial technology. He started his career on the desk at the old lady of Boribunder. At The Ken, Shashidhar works out of Mumbai and writes on telecom and financial technology. What he really wants to talk about though is his vinyl collection.

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