Ad Tech New Delhi 2025: What Streaming & OTT Players Need to Track
How Ad Tech is shaping the future of AVOD, CTV, and short-form video in India’s Streaming landscape.
Hey Streamers 👋,
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Dubai International Stadium, 2nd March, India v New Zealand, ICC Champions Trophy
Agenda
How Ad Tech is Transforming India’s OTT & Video Landscape
The ad:tech New Delhi 2025 conference (March 5-6)
Key Themes and Sessions to Track
And….Action!
How Ad Tech is Transforming India’s OTT & Video Landscape
Ad Tech & Streaming: The Evolution of Brand Engagement
The rise of streaming and OTT platforms in India has unlocked a massive opportunity for brands and advertisers to connect with digital-first audiences. As millions shift away from traditional TV to AVOD (ad-supported video on demand) and FAST (free ad-supported streaming TV) platforms, the role of advertising technology (Ad Tech) has never been more critical.
The ad:tech New Delhi 2025 conference (March 5-6) will be a key industry moment to explore how Ad Tech, video innovation, and audience intelligence are shaping India’s digital advertising and streaming future.
Here’s a breakdown of key themes and takeaways from the event’s agenda that I am most excited about (hopefully the organizers share session videos from the event):
1️⃣ The Free Streaming Revolution: How AVOD is Reshaping Advertising
Key Session: Karan Bedi, Amazon MX Player
Topic: Premium Content, Unique Audience Signals, Measurable Outcomes
The biggest shift in India’s streaming landscape is the rise of ad-supported streaming models. Unlike Western markets where Hybrid OTT business models dominate (mix of SVOD and AVOD), India’s consumers prefer free streaming experiences, making AVOD a powerhouse for brands.
🔹 Why It Matters for Brands:
AVOD platforms provide premium content with a massive, engaged user base.
AI-driven audience signals help brands reach niche segments more effectively.
New measurement tools now allow advertisers to track performance and optimize campaigns in real-time.
MX Player has been at the forefront of this, leveraging Amazon’s ad-tech stack to enhance monetization while keeping content free for users.
2️⃣ The Ad-Funded Publisher Ecosystem: A Sustainable Model for Growth
Key Session: Sweta Jhunjhunwala, Google
Topic: Thriving in an Ad-Funded Publisher Ecosystem
For content publishers, shifting from SVOD to AVOD or hybrid models is no longer optional—it’s necessary. India’s largest platforms, from JioCinema and MX Player to YouTube and ShareChat, are prioritizing ad-supported models as a way to scale.
🔹 What’s Driving This Shift?
More content creators & publishers entering the space, increasing competition.
New ad formats like shoppable video ads are creating revenue diversification.
Better AI and automation is improving ad targeting, making monetization easier.
As brands rethink their digital video strategy, this session will offer key insights into how publishers can maximize revenue in an AVOD-driven world.
3️⃣ The Future of Streaming TV & Premium Video Advertising
Key Session: Magnite event – The Tech Toolkit for TV’s Future
🔹 Key Discussion Points:
How CTV (connected TV) and streaming TV are disrupting traditional broadcasting.
Why premium video environments matter for brand safety and engagement.
The role of AI & machine learning in optimizing ad placement for brands.
Streaming TV is now mainstream entertainment in India, with increasing adoption of smart TVs, fiber broadband, and mobile-first viewing habits. However, the biggest challenge remains delivering seamless ad experiences without disrupting user engagement—something platforms like JioCinema, Disney+ Hotstar, and MX Player are actively solving.
Expect brands to shift budgets from traditional TV advertising to streaming TV, making Ad Tech essential for targeting, measurement, and campaign success.
4️⃣ Democratizing Video Advertising: Making Premium Ads Accessible for All Brands
Key Session: Kapil Sharma, Amazon Ads
Topic: How Small & Medium Businesses Can Tap Into Video Advertising
Video advertising was once reserved for big-budget brands, but Ad Tech is breaking down these barriers. Today, even smaller advertisers can:
Leverage AI-powered self-serve ad platforms to run campaigns on streaming services.
Use dynamic ad creatives to personalize messaging based on user preferences.
Measure impact with real-time analytics, even on a limited budget.
This session will focus on how all brands—big and small—can harness video advertising for measurable business growth.
5️⃣ The Rise of Short-Form Video Advertising: From Viral Trends to Always-On Strategy
Key Session: Gaurav Jain, ShareChat
Topic: Short-Form, Big Impact
India’s short-form video ecosystem (Think YouTube Shorts, Moj, Josh, ShareChat) has become an advertising goldmine. With engagement levels higher than traditional long-form video, brands are rapidly shifting ad budgets toward short-form video strategies.
🔹 Why Short-Form is Winning in India:
Attention spans are shorter—users engage better with bite-sized content.
AI-driven content curation means ads blend seamlessly with organic videos.
Influencer-led marketing is driving strong performance for brands.
This session will explore how brands can move beyond viral trends and build an always-on video strategy that consistently drives conversions.
What This Means for the Future of Video Advertising in India
OTT & Streaming Monetization is Now Ad-First: Platforms are aggressively shifting to AVOD & hybrid models to scale audiences and drive ad revenue.
AI is Unlocking New Levels of Ad Personalization: From contextual targeting to real-time bid optimization, AI-powered Ad Tech is making video advertising more effective than ever.
Streaming TV is Eating Into Traditional TV Budgets: Expect brand ad spends to shift from linear TV to CTV and AVOD platforms, driving innovation in digital video advertising.
Short-Form is the Next Big Growth Channel: Platforms like YouTube Shorts, ShareChat, and Moj are emerging as high-impact ad channels for brands looking to maximize ROI.
India’s OTT ad market is accelerating fast, with AVOD, CTV, and short-form video leading the charge. As ad-tech innovation and automation (programmatic) scales, brands must adapt new tools, formats, and measurement strategies to stay ahead.
The ad:tech New Delhi 2025 conference is a must-watch (and attend if you can) event to track where India’s video advertising market is headed next for the Streaming Industry amongst others!
What do you think? Will AVOD & short-form video continue to dominate brand advertising in India? Drop your thoughts in the comments!
All roads lead to the Dubai International Stadium and JioHotstar / Disney+ hotstar as India take on the winner of today’s semi final match between South Africa and New Zealand. Another streaming record coming up?! Watch this space.
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