The UK represents 21% of the European TV market, according to a new report by the European Audiovisual Observatory, with 1,203 TV channels out of 3,005 in the EU based in the UK.
The report provides key figures on co-productions and the import and export of films between the UK and other EU countries, as well as data on the circulation of audiovisual services between the UK and the European Union.
The United Kingdom is, together with Germany, the largest audiovisual market in the EU. With 12% of TV households, the UK accounts for 21% of the EU audiovisual market.
The European Union Audiovisual market (2016, bn EUR)
Source: Ampere Analysis, EBU/MIS, film agencies, WARC, HIS
The report states that the UK market is slightly more dynamic, on average, than the EU as a whole, due to the solid performance of pay TV and also because the UK is the most developed EU market by far for on-demand services. Indeed, the average annual growth rate between 2011 and 2016 was 2.1% for the UK versus 1.7% for the EU.
The UK ranks fourth in terms of the number of TV fiction hours produced, underpinned by a focus on high-end drama with a strong export potential. It is the main hub for TV channels established in the European Union — 29% of EU TV channels are established in the UK.
TV channels established in the European Union (at year end, 2017)
Source: European Audiovisual Observatory/MAVISE. Excludes local channels. Includes linguistic versions.
The UK is by far the main country of establishment in the EU for television channels and on-demand services. The UK hosts three of the top 10 EU audiovisual groups (Sky, BBC and ITV) also as European subsidiaries of the major US media groups.
The UK is a strong exporter of film towards the other European Union countries. It ranks second (after France) for the number of film titles exported to other EU countries in cinema and on TV.
EU non-national releases on TV (2015-2016 season)
Source: European Audiovisual Observatory analysis of Eurodata data
EU countries account for 29% (excluding GB Inc.) and 24.5% (including GB Inc.) of worldwide admissions for UK films.
Cinema admissions to UK films (av. 2011-2016, m) Source: European Audiovisual Observatory/LUMIERE – GB Inc. Films are produced by a UK subsidiary of a US studio.
The UK is a key player in the European film sector. Thanks, in particular, to a strong domestic cinema market, it produces 16% of all EU films, excluding blockbusters films fully-funded by US majors through their UK subsidiaries.
The report states that, as far as VOD exploitation of EU films is concerned, the UK ranks as the market leader for the number of titles exported to other EU countries on TVOD.
