In its latest report, “Works on Television in Europe”, the European Audiovisual Observatory offered an in-depth analysis of the films and television content broadcast across the continent. The whitepaper, covering 1,663 TV channels from 25 European Union (EU) countries, documents 436,000 individual broadcasts by the end of 2024. It highlights key trends in the circulation and distribution of European audiovisual works, their competition with content from the United States, and the role of national versus international productions.
One of the report’s standout findings is that European works accounted for 51% of all content broadcast in the EU in 2023, surpassing the share of U.S. productions (40%). This statistic is a result os the huge efforts of European audiovisual sector despite the dominance of Hollywood in global markets. ‘In absolute terms, over 138,000 distinct works aired on European television, including more than 88,000 European-origin productions’, said an spokenperson from the observatory.
Among these European works, content originating from EU27 countries represented 75% of the total, while the remaining 25% came from non-EU European countries, predominantly the United Kingdom. However, the dominance of region content was not uniform across all formats: unitary documentaries had the highest share of all works, while films had the lowest. Fiction series also demonstrated a strong European presence, particularly in contrast to single-production films.
National and non-national content: A balancing act
In fact, a closer examination of content distribution patterns revealed that the presence of European works varies significantly by country. High-production nations such as France, Germany, Poland, and Italy demonstrated a higher-than-average share of both European and nationally produced works. However, Spain was an exception, with a lower proportion of national content within its European share.
For smaller markets, such as Austria, Finland, and Sweden, European content also played a significant role, often exceeding the average share across the EU. In many countries, non-national European works were crucial in maintaining the visibility of European productions, particularly in markets with lower local production capacity.
Pub-broadcasters emerged as the most significant contributors to the diffusion of European content. Channels with an audience share of at least 1% also showed a stronger inclination toward European works compared to smaller networks. This suggests that larger and publicly funded networks play a crucial role in preserving European audiovisual diversity on television.
Additionally, European co-productions demonstrated a substantial advantage in cross-border circulation. On average, a European co-production was aired in 2.8 countries, compared to just 1.4 countries for purely national productions. This underscores the importance of collaborative efforts in ensuring European content reaches wider audiences beyond its country of origin.
The leading exporters of European audiovisual content
The report identifies the United Kingdom, France, and Germany as the top three exporters of European audiovisual works within the EU. The UK remains the dominant force in the export of documentaries and fiction series, while France leads in film exports, and Germany excels in distributing unitary documentaries.
Examining the most widely exported productions, the top 20 list is heavily dominated by theatrical films, highlighting the continued appeal of European cinema across borders. A notable trend is the influence of Luc Besson’s EuropaCorp, with nine of the 20 most exported films linked to the French production company.
In the realm of TV fiction, children’s animated series stand out as a dominant category, with 12 of the 20 most exported EU27 series falling into this genre. Of these, 11 were primarily produced in France, emphasizing the country’s stronghold in animation. Historical documentaries also showed strong exportability, with 15 of the 20 most exported European documentaries focusing on history.
Alberto Buitron
