Again, one more weekend arrived. What are your plans? Well, if you are someone who wants to enjoy and have fun, probably you would prefer going to a party or spending time with family. When the whole family together wanted to do something exciting, the majority of the time, they would find movies as an option. Many of us choose movies as our prime choice for entertainment, as it is affordable and almost accessible to everyone. But this is where my question comes in. When was the last time you stood in a long queue to buy a movie ticket? In a long queue? It’s been a while, right? Why? Because we have that option to buy the tickets online. Today we have multiple platforms offering the movie tickets, but still the majority of us choose “BookMyShow.” Have you ever thought why? Though there are chances that we may use Insider earlier now in the district. The higher probability is that we end up booking tickets in BookMyShow. Well, that’s why “BookMyShow” has 70%+ market share in the ticketing industry. That’s a clear sign that they are the market leader. But how did BookMyShow still manage to survive in this tough market and competitive markets, despite the competitors offering discounts and offers? Why and how did BookMyShow manage to do this? In this we will dive deeper into each and every detail of the company and let’s figure it out.
The story of BookMyShow began with one man, Ashish Hemrajani. In 1999, Ashish was just another young advertising professional who decided to take a break and travel. During a vacation in South Africa, he came across a radio ad that allowed people to book concert tickets over the phone. That small idea struck a big chord: “Why can’t India have something like this?” When he returned, he quit his job and started Big Tree Entertainment, the parent company of BookMyShow, along with his friends Parikshit Dar and Rajesh Balpande. The internet scene in India back then was almost non-existent, as few people even had access to the internet, online payments were a nightmare, and credit cards were rare. But Ashish believed the future was digital and entertainment was universal.
The first version of BookMyShow was not as glamorous as today. It was built to help people book tickets for concerts and events. The company even installed kiosks and sold tickets manually for some time because online sales were too limited. They faced multiple challenges in the journey as markets haven’t supported the growth, but still, they remained intact. They started planning and executing everything in a unique manner. They started working with multiplexes, understanding customer behavior, and laying down the tech infrastructure brick by brick.
Around 2007–2010, India witnessed a revolution and the rise of multiplexes, credit cards, and affordable internet. This was the moment BookMyShow had been patiently waiting for. The platform quickly became the go-to choice for booking movie tickets because it had already built strong relationships with theaters across the country. BookMyShow spent years understanding theater systems, customer needs, and payment behaviors long before its competitors even thought of entering the market. So, when digital ticketing became mainstream, BookMyShow already had the infrastructure and relationships that others couldn’t easily replicate.
BookMyShow’s long-term partnerships with leading multiplex chains like PVR, INOX, and Cinepolis played a massive role. These deals gave them exclusive access to inventory and priority listings and ensured users always found tickets available on BMS first. This is the biggest advantage for BookMyShow to date, and that is why, even when rivals came in with deep pockets and discounts, BookMyShow’s deep partnerships and integrated systems made it nearly impossible to dislodge them.
Now they didn’t just stop at the movie ticketing business. They expanded into live events, music concerts, sports, and comedy shows—categories that built a lifestyle ecosystem around entertainment. This not only diversified their revenue but also built a broader emotional connection with users. Now they have built a great brand amongst this entertainment segment. They tapped into the segment early, and there is almost no tough competition for them. And their early partnerships helped them. There’s a reason why we don’t say “I booked it online,” but “I booked it on BookMyShow.” Because of their marketing, their strong brand reputation has been ingrained deeper with customers for years.
But how does BookMyShow earn revenue? BookMyShow earns mainly from a commission per ticket sold, convenience fees from users, advertisements on the platform, and partnership deals with event organizers and brands. And these are their major streams for revenue. Now if we look at the revenue of BookMyShow, it paints a clear picture about the company. BookMyShow has experienced a remarkable turnaround over the past two years (FY23 and FY24), with its revenue soaring more than 5X and achieving profitability. Its revenue spiked to nearly ₹1,400 crore in FY24, from just ₹277 crore in FY22. Now they are even making good profits and building a stronger ecosystem than before.
Today though, competition is rising; they are still remaining intact. Because, as discussed, they have relationships with theaters and event organizers, data insights on audience behavior, a habit loop among users, and a brand that people emotionally connect with. This is why BookMyShow is still the market leader. That’s why, even today, when someone says, “Let’s book a movie,” the first thought that comes to mind is still BookMyShow.
Also Read: Discord reports a data breach via vendor 5CA, exposing approx. 70,000 users
