Australians are likely to spend almost $40 billion on media and entertainment by 2018, with video and smartphone games to attract the strongest spending growth.
Almost $34 billion was spent on films, TV, radio, games, internet, newspapers and magazines in 2013, up 4.5 per cent from the previous year, according to PwC's latest entertainment and media outlook report.
Spending growth was slower than the 5.2 per cent rise posted globally, while in the Asia Pacific region spending rose by 7.1 per cent.
PwC predicts media and entertainment spending in Australia will grow by 3.4 per cent annually to $39.8 billion by 2018.
The strongest area of growth will be in gaming, which is expected to post annual spending growth of 7.6 per cent to $12 billion by 2018, due in part to smartphone games like Candy Crush.
Editor of PwC's report, Megan Brownlow, says the gaming industry has shifted from its traditional market of young men to include women and older people.
"Over the last few years we have seen quite a revolution in games," Ms Brownlow said.
"Lots of games now are played over social media platforms or mobile games like Candy Crush."
Spending on newspapers and magazines is forecast to fall in coming years, while film is expected to post modest spending growth.
Pay TV and internet spending are tipped to grow by 4.6 per cent and 2.8 per cent respectively.
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