India hosted its first-ever World Audio Visual Entertainment Summit (WAVES) 2025 at the Jio World Convention Centre, Mumbai, Maharashtra. Over 10,000 delegates from more than 90 countries attended the four-day event, marking India’s entry into hosting a dedicated global media and entertainment conclave.
Key Highlights of WAVES Summit
Brought together leaders from media and entertainment industry, content creators, technology innovators and policymakers. Major discussion themes:
- Artificial Intelligence in Media & Entertainment: Ethical use of AI for content creation, personalization algorithms, and rights management.
- Globalisation of Media: Cross-border collaborations, co-productions, and strategies for international distribution.
- Future of Content Creation: Immersive storytelling (AR/VR), interactive formats, and creator economy dynamics.
- Emerging Technologies: Blockchain for content rights, 5G-enabled streaming, and the metaverse’s role in entertainment.
WAVES Bazaar
Under WAVES umbrella, first-ever WAVES Bazaar functioned as a marketplace for rights acquisition, co-production deals, and service exports.
- Business deals worth over ₹1,300 crore were signed between Indian creators and international filmmakers, distributors, and investors.
- Demonstrated India’s capacity to serve as a hub for creative-industry commerce and contract facilitation.
Global Media Dialogue (GMD)
- India hosted the first-ever GMD as part of WAVES 2025.
- Co-hosted by: Ministry of Information and Broadcasting with support from the Ministry of External Affairs,
- Participation:
- Delegations from 60+ countries: UK, Japan, Russia, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Indonesia
- International organizations like World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO)
- Served as a forum to address the evolving role of media in:
- Shaping economic and social development
- Strengthening diplomatic and cultural ties
- Formulating policy alignment on regulation, intellectual property, and digital governance
- Facilitated discussions on talent exchange, capacity building, and best-practice sharing in the global audiovisual sector.
WAVES Declaration
At the conclusion of the GMD, representatives of 77 countries adopted the WAVES Declaration, which:
- Reaffirmed commitment to enhance global cooperation in media and entertainment.
- Emphasised the urgency of bridging the digital divide to ensure equitable access to content and platforms.
- Called for leveraging media as a tool for promoting global peace, cultural understanding, and sustainable development.