The Emerging On-The-Go Entertainment Industry in India

In today’s digital era, people carry almost everything on their smartphones, be it documents or entertainment. The increased penetration of the internet has totally changed the entertainment scenario while travelling. From a single TV on buses to offline entertainment apps, the on-the-go entertainment market has undergone a major transformation.

 India is quickly becoming the go-to destination for media and entertainment companies looking to expand their international profile and anchor a successful business in Asia. In fact, witnessing a positive outlook of the Indian on-the-go entertainment industry, many domestic brands are also venturing into the market. Long travel hours can be tiresome, be it for professional or personal trips. To keep one occupied during long-haul travel, there are some apps and platforms that have curated content for travellers, which can even be accessed offline, thereby catering to times where users face low internet connectivity as well.

One such brand is Goldseat, which started with the idea of providing entertainment services to travellers in all forms of transport. In a tête-à-tête with Franchise India, GauravKapahi, co-founder of GoldSeat, talks about the emerging on-the-go entertainment industry and much more.

Current Scenario of the on-the-go Entertainment Sector in India

The content consumption on smartphones and smart devices has increased tremendously and as a result, the on-the-go consumption has seen a significant increase as well. Currently, there are not many companies who can provide licensed HD content, especially in buses.

“There are multiple factors that help create a good experience for travellers and on-the-go entertainment is a big factor in determining the same. GoldSeat is ensuring that not only does the bus operator provide quality entertainment option to the travellers but also help in curbing piracy which was rampant till very recently,” said, Kapahi.

Increasing Need of on-the-go Entertainment

Bus travellers who travel long hours on the roads with sporadic internet connectivity have very few means to entertain themselves. These on-the-go entertainment apps bridge the demand-supply gap by providing offline entertainment which works without internet connectivity.

“Apart from entertainment, these also have a host of services which ensures a safer and more comfortable travel. Services include live cameras, GPS for vehicle tracking, passenger info system, seatback screens and entertainment systems for sleeper buses. The expectations of travellers are increasing from road transport and we feel that we fulfil most of the requirements for the passengers as well as the bus fleet owners,” asserted, Kapahi.

Emerging Trends in the Industry

More and more bus operators are opting for installing screens instead of providing BYOD options and want to ensure the latest content is given to their passengers. There is a need for internet on the bus as well and it is now considered important to have a bus with running Wi-Fi.

Consumer Behaviour

Offline available content makes a huge difference for the passengers to travel on long routes as the travellers always need an edge to their ordinary travel experience. “We provide entertainment through the latest HD content along with connectivity and security on-the-go. We focus on transforming the travel journey of every individual,” stated, Kapahi. 

Tips to Start an on-the-go Entertainment Business

• Focus on something new and innovative
• Ensure the authenticity of content being played
• Always charge the client for services
• Be prepared for rejection

 Future of on-the-go Entertainment Market

Road travel is the quickest to grow amongst all forms of travel and a majority of the population prefers travelling by road because of cost constraints of a flight and unavailability of enough seats in the railways. Entertainment is an integral part of travel and audio-visual format is the most preferred; hence, this segment will only grow and our services will get stronger as the network connectivity in our country gets better. The growth in smaller towns such as Indore, Lucknow, Patna and Pune is at a much faster pace as compared to the metros.

Future Expansion Plans

“We have been on a subscription model for the last 2 years and currently serve about 500 buses across 10 states with about 20000+ unique passengers daily. We work with some of the most renowned operators in the northern part of the country and are now expanding our operations to Bangalore, Hyderabad, Telangana and Mumbai. We are also working on entering the railways and will simultaneously work on a plan for Metros,” adds Kapahi.