Latin American media market to grow 15.4% to $62bn in 2026
October 12, 2026 11.43 Europe/London By Julian Clover


Latin America’s media and entertainment market is forecast to grow by 15.4% to $62 billion (€53.5 billion) in 2026, with online video accounting for more than half of revenues, according to new research from Omdia.

Figures presented at MIPCOM Cannes show online video revenues reaching $35 billion this year, compared with $16 billion for traditional television.

The region is growing faster than the United States, where media and entertainment revenues are expected to increase by 10.2% to $476 billion.

“Latin America is one of the most exciting growth opportunities in global media and entertainment,” said María Rúa Aguete, Head of Media and Entertainment at Omdia.

“The region is growing by 15.4% this year, but what makes it particularly interesting is that television remains incredibly popular while streaming still has significant room to expand. The opportunity is enormous, but success will depend on affordability, connectivity, local content and partnerships.”

Omdia forecasts that Latin America will have 190.7 million online video subscriptions by the end of 2026, rising to 208.7 million in 2027 and 243.5 million by 2031.

Netflix remains the largest individual subscription streaming service, with 63.8 million subscriptions forecast this year, increasing to 73.7 million by 2031.

The streaming platform is expected to account for almost half of the region’s online video subscription revenues in 2026, despite holding around a third of subscriptions.

Its advertising-supported tier is helping Netflix reach more price-sensitive consumers while creating additional advertising opportunities.

“Netflix has built an extraordinary position in Latin America,” said Rúa Aguete. “It is not just about having the most subscribers. Netflix captures nearly half of streaming subscription revenues. Its advertising-supported plan is helping it reach new audiences while reinforcing its market leadership.”

Despite the growth in streaming, traditional television continues to dominate household viewing.

Television penetration reached 91% across Latin America in 2025, compared with 35% for subscription video-on-demand services. Broadband penetration stood at 53%.

“Latin America does not have a television problem. It has a connectivity challenge,” said Rúa Aguete. “Television reaches 91% of the region, but subscription streaming reaches only 35%. The next phase of growth will depend on making streaming more accessible, affordable and relevant to consumers.”

Outside television and streaming, gaming is expected to generate $5.9 billion in 2026, followed by music at $3 billion and cinema at $1.8 billion.

Omdia believes further growth will depend on advertising-supported subscriptions, partnerships with telecommunications operators, flexible pricing and investment in local productions.

“Latin America is not simply a market where global platforms can replicate their strategies from the US or Europe,” concluded Rúa Aguete.

“Understanding local audiences, investing in relevant content and building the right partnerships will be critical. The future of streaming in Latin America is not just about competition. It is about collaboration and finding new ways to reach consumers.”