New Delhi, March 20. (PTI): The size of the Indian media and entertainment industry is expected to more than double to Rs 1,00,000 crore in the next four years on rising demand, technological improvements and greater investments, according to a report by industry body FICCI and consulting firm PWC.

The sector is projected to post a growth rate of 18 per cent annually to Rs one trillion (Rs 1,00,000 crore) by 2011 from about Rs 437 billion (43,700 crore) at present, according to a FICCI-PriceWaterhouseCoopers (PWC) report.

Technological advancements, policy initiatives taken by the Government to encourage investments and initiative by private companies will be the key drivers, it said.

The report, to be released on March 26 by Information and Broadcasting Minister P R Dasmunsi, said Internet advertising industry is likely to post the highest compounded annual growth rate of 43 per cent to reach Rs 950 crore in 2010 from Rs 160 crore now.

Television industry is projected to grow by 22 per cent to Rs 51,900 crore by 2011 from Rs 19,100 crore and print media by 13 per cent to Rs 23,200 crore from Rs 12,800 crore.

According to the report, 2006 saw the maximum flow of foreign investment in the entertainment and media industry.

"As many as 13 proposals for FDI in media were cleared by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting in 2006 and the Ministry is examining another 22 proposals for clearance," it said.

According to the report, the news and current affairs segment dominated the field with eight proposals. Over the last three years, the industry has received foreign investment of more than Rs 400 crore.

The report projected the radio sector to grow by 28 per cent from Rs 500 crore to Rs 1,700 crore and music by 4 per cent from Rs 720 crore to Rs 870 crore.

Live entertainment segment is estimated to grow by 16 per cent from Rs 900 crore to Rs 1,900 crore and out-of-home advertising by 17 per cent from Rs 1,000 crore to Rs 2,150 crore.

Indian advertising spends also showed exponential growth in 2006 growing over 23 per cent over the last year at Rs 16,300 crore, it said.