GroupM ESP, the entertainment and sports division of GroupM India, has released the 12th edition of its annual report on Indian sports. Titled ‘Sporting Nation: Building a Legacy’, the report provides a comprehensive analysis of India’s evolving sports sponsorship landscape, focusing on three key revenue streams: Sponsorships (including Ground, Team, and Franchise Fees), Athlete Endorsements, and Advertising Expenses on related content.
These three factors have collectively propelled the Indian sports market to the brink of the $2 billion mark—nearly seven times its scale in 2008. According to the India Sports Sponsorship Report 2024, the industry recorded a 6% year-on-year growth, surpassing Rs 16,633 crore last year.
Speaking about the current sports landscape, Ashwin Padmanabhan, Chief Operating Officer, GroupM South Asia, says, “With brands increasingly recognising the power of sports as a platform for deeper consumer engagement, the momentum is undeniable. This is not just growth in numbers—it’s the evolution of an industry that is more diverse, digital, and driven by innovation than ever before.”
“The Indian sports economy has firmly established itself as a high-growth sector, surging 7x since 2008 to near the $2 billion mark. While traditional powerhouses continue to drive momentum, the real story lies in the rise of emerging sports, athlete-driven brand value, and the digital explosion, which alone saw a 25% jump in media spends. The record-breaking Rs. 1,224 crore spends in athlete endorsements signals a shift—brands are betting big on individual icons across sports,” shares Vinit Karnik, Managing Director, Content, Entertainment & Sports, GroupM India.
