Table Of Contents

Hey there, friend.

Picture this: It’s 2026, you grab your phone after work, scroll for five minutes, and suddenly you’re deeper into the day’s biggest stories than you ever got from an hour of TV.

Millions of us are quietly asking the same thing: Why does Indian mainstream media feel so irrelevant these days?

I am writing this as part of the team at THOUSIF Inc. – INDIA.

We live and breathe digital content every single day, and I want to talk to you like we are sitting across the table with chai in hand, simple, straight, no complicated stuff.

What “Mainstream” Used to Mean

For decades, the big TV channels, major newspapers, and big Bollywood films decided what India watched and talked about.

9 PM news was family time.

Movie stars were gods.

Those platforms felt unbeatable.

But something shifted.

Slowly at first, then all at once.

Where The Cracks Started Showing

Trust took a real hit.

Remember the 2025 India-Pakistan tensions?

A lot of mainstream coverage later turned out to be hyped or plain wrong.

People noticed.

The term “Godi media”, meaning lapdog media, went from online slang to everyday conversation.

Corporate owners, political pressure, and the TRP chase turned news into shouting matches instead of real conversations.

Audiences started feeling talked at, not talked to.

Moreover, the numbers prove it.

Pay-TV homes dropped by another six million in just one year.

Young folks especially? They have already moved on.

Meet The New Voices Everyone Is Listening To

Now open YouTube.

Dhruv Rathee calmly breaks down the Union Budget or election data with clear charts and zero drama, and he has over 31.2 million subscribers in 2026.

Ravish Kumar, the former big-channel star, runs his own show with 14.3 million people tuning in for honest, detailed takes.

No fancy studios.

No screaming panels.

Just facts, stories, and respect for your time.

Moreover, India is loving it.

The Numbers Do Not Lie – Here Is What Changed

According to the latest FICCI-EY report, here is the reality check:

In 2024, digital media grew by 17% and crossed ₹802 billion, accounting for 32% of the entire Indian media and entertainment pie.
For the first time in 25 years, digital overtook television (which fell to ₹679 billion).
In 2025, TV advertising volumes dropped another 11%. Linear TV viewership keeps sliding while phones do the heavy lifting.

The shift is not coming.

It is already here.

Quick Comparison – Mainstream vs Digital

Aspect	Mainstream Media	Digital Creators
Trust with Young India	Dropping fast	Much higher
Style	Loud debates, dramatic music	Calm explainers, real talk
Reach in 2026	Strong in smaller towns & older homes	Exploding on mobile everywhere
Cost	Cable bills or newspaper price	Mostly free (just your data)
Accountability	Corporate & political influence	Direct comments & likes from you
Depth	Often quick & surface-level	Long, researched, easy to follow

So, Is It Completely Irrelevant Now?

Not 100%. Not yet.

Mainstream still reaches millions in rural areas and older families.

Some channels and papers do solid work.

Big films can still create moments.

However, the old formula of shouting and spinning? It is losing its grip fast.

The ones that adapt, go digital, listen more, cut the noise, will stick around.

The rest risk becoming background noise.

Trivia

Here is something wild: In 2024, digital media in India finally overtook television after 25 straight years of TV being the boss. One year later, your phone screen officially became more powerful than the TV in the living room. That is not just a stat, that is history happening in real time!

What This Actually Means For You And Me

More voices. More languages. More real talk.

A student in a small Bihar town can fact-check a minister in 15 minutes.

A working mom in Bengaluru can learn about her rights from someone who sounds like her friend.

Sure, there are new problems, fake news, echo chambers, and algorithms playing games.

However, power is no longer locked in a few studios in Mumbai and Delhi.

It is spreading.

And honestly? That feels like real progress.

At THOUSIF Inc. – INDIA, we believe the future belongs to content that respects your intelligence.

No drama, just useful stuff that actually helps.

So, why does mainstream feel irrelevant in 2026?

Because we have better options now, and we are using them.

What about you? Have you switched from TV news to YouTube yet? Or still holding on to that 9 PM habit? Drop your thoughts below or share this with a friend who is still stuck in the old routine.

If you liked this honest chat, explore more simple, no-nonsense articles on digital India, smart choices, and the stories that actually matter.

See you in the next one, friend.