From temples to tournaments, classrooms to cosmetics—live streaming has become India’s most versatile business model. Here’s how everyone from startups to street-smart creators is cashing in.
In 2016, when India’s digital revolution took off with Reliance Jio’s affordable internet, few could’ve predicted that a major by-product of this shift would be the explosion of live streaming services. Nearly a decade later, the industry has evolved far beyond just YouTube gamers and Instagram influencers.
From religious aartis being streamed from Varanasi to college professors teaching on Facebook Live, and even small-town shopkeepers selling saris via live commerce, the live streaming economy is booming—and surprisingly profitable.
The Digital Pandal: Religious Live Streaming in Full Swing
When the COVID-19 lockdowns hit, temples like the Kashi Vishwanath Temple in Varanasi and the ISKCON temples across India turned to live streaming to stay connected with their devotees. What began as a workaround quickly became a permanent offering. Now, platforms like LiveDarshan.com and StreamOnWeb offer end-to-end live streaming solutions for religious institutions.
According to a 2023 survey by the Indian Spiritual Tech Forum, over 10,000 temples and religious trusts now use live streaming services regularly. The market has also given rise to freelancers and small businesses that specialize in installing streaming setups in religious places—a ₹200 crore market, growing at 20% annually.
Weddings, Without Borders
Remember the 2020 lockdown weddings? Families separated across cities and countries logged in to watch couples tie the knot over YouTube and Zoom. But unlike many pandemic trends that faded away, wedding live streaming has stayed.
Companies like ShaadiSaga and WeddingWire India now offer live streaming as a standard service. “In Tier 2 cities like Meerut and Indore, live-streamed weddings have become a cultural staple—especially for NRIs,” says Ankit Goyal, a wedding planner based in Jaipur.
Goyal’s company now partners with local videographers and tech teams to offer ₹10,000–₹30,000 live streaming packages, earning him an average of ₹4–5 lakhs per season.
The Classroom Goes Live: EdTech’s Quiet Backbone
While unicorns like BYJU’S, Unacademy, and Vedantu grabbed headlines, thousands of Indian educators found their own niche by streaming tuition classes directly on platforms like YouTube Live and Facebook.
Take Sushma Rani, a Class 10 science teacher from Patna. She started with a second-hand ring light and her smartphone, teaching students during the pandemic. Today, her YouTube channel has over 50,000 subscribers, and she earns upwards of ₹80,000/month via memberships, super chats, and affiliate partnerships with EdTech brands.
Services that help teachers set up live classes—like Teachmint and Airmeet—are part of an ecosystem that’s expected to touch ₹12,000 crore by 2026.
Game On: India’s Rise in Live Streaming for Gamers
India is now the second-largest market for game streamers, after the US. Platforms like Rooter, Loco, and Nimo TV are redefining what it means to be a gamer in India.
Rishabh “Rakazone” Karanwal, one of India’s first gaming streamers, now earns over ₹1 crore a year through sponsorships, ads, and live viewership. But what’s more promising is the rise of regional streamers in languages like Tamil, Bengali, and Marathi, capturing hyperlocal audiences.
Rooter, a homegrown startup founded in 2016, recently secured funding from investors like Duane Park and PayTM. It boasts over 60 million users and has signed exclusive streaming deals with over 500 Indian gamers.
Small Town, Big Stream: The Tier 2–3 Boom
Live streaming is no longer an urban privilege. In cities like Aligarh, Hubli, and Dibrugarh, local entrepreneurs are offering streaming services for political rallies, college fests, coaching centers, and even funeral ceremonies.
One such example is Sahil Qureshi from Gaya, Bihar, who launched a service called StreamBihar in 2021. With just ₹80,000 investment, he now covers everything from religious events to live sales shows for saree sellers on Facebook Live. Sahil’s business pulls in nearly ₹1.2 lakh a month, and he has already trained three more people to expand into nearby districts.
Live Commerce: The Future of Retail?
Platforms like Meesho Live, Amazon Live, and Flipkart Video have made live commerce accessible even to small shop owners. During the festive season of 2024, Meesho reported a 300% increase in live-stream-based sales.
Take Manju Saree Centre, a modest shop in Kanpur. With the help of a local tech provider, they started weekly Facebook Live sales, featuring their new collections. In just six months, they grew their customer base from 300 to over 5,000, and started shipping to 12 states.
The global live commerce market is expected to cross $500 billion by 2028, and India is poised to be a key player.
Behind the Camera: What It Takes to Run the Show
Starting a live streaming business isn’t just for coders or influencers. Here’s what’s needed:
Initial Investment:
- Basic setup (camera, mic, tripod, laptop): ₹1–2 lakh
- Platform or website (if you want to scale): ₹3–5 lakh
- Staff (tech, marketing, on-ground): 3–5 people
Monthly Earnings Potential:
- Freelance/Local model: ₹50,000 to ₹2 lakh/month
- Niche platform model: ₹5–10 lakh/month
- Scaled app/service model: ₹1 crore+ annual revenue
Monetization Channels:
- Per-event pricing
- Monthly retainers (coaching, religious orgs)
- Ads and sponsorships
- Affiliate commissions
- Selling streaming tech as a service
Challenges to Watch Out For
- Internet reliability in remote areas
- Platform rules and copyright (especially on YouTube)
- Burnout from long streaming hours
- Content moderation and legal issues
Why This Model Works in India
India’s diversity—of languages, cultures, religions, and needs—makes it the perfect sandbox for live streaming innovation. Unlike the West, where live streaming is dominated by entertainment, India’s streaming economy serves education, spirituality, commerce, and social connection.
Government initiatives like Digital India, increasing smartphone penetration, and the arrival of 5G are only expected to supercharge this ecosystem further.
Final Takeaway: A Startup, A Side Hustle, or A Service Model
Whether you’re a coder with a SaaS dream, a videographer in a small town, or a coach with a niche audience—live streaming is a business opportunity that adapts to you.
In the next five years, as every corner of India comes online, the camera won’t just face the audience—it’ll face massive earning potential too.
