Unveiling the Evolving Landscape of European Television: Insights from the 2024 Film Festival Cologne

The 2024 edition of the Film Festival Cologne shed light on the captivating trends and transformations shaping the European television landscape. This comprehensive report delves into the key insights and case studies that emerged from the event, offering a unique perspective on the types of shows that are captivating audiences across the continent.

Unraveling the Tapestry of European Television Viewership

Domestic Content Dominates Primetime Viewership

The market overview presentation by Siméon Mirzayantz, regional business manager for CEEMEA and Southern Europe at Glance, Médiamétrie's international television branch, revealed a significant trend: national content still reigns supreme in primetime viewership across Europe. In the UK, France, Germany, and Italy, the top ten scripted series were predominantly domestic productions or national co-productions. Similarly, in Denmark, the Netherlands, Spain, and Turkey, the number-one scripted series were all homegrown.This trend is particularly pronounced in the UK and Turkey, where main channels dedicated more than 80% of their primetime slots to domestic series. The data suggests that audiences across Europe have a strong affinity for content that reflects their own cultural identities and narratives.

The Rise of Exporting Powerhouses

The analysis also shed light on the shifting dynamics of content exportation. The USA emerged as the top exporting country, accounting for 46% of series distributed across Europe. The UK and Turkey followed, with 16% and 12% of exported content, respectively.Interestingly, the report highlighted the growing influence of Turkish series in the Spanish market, where 80% of non-domestic content over the past two years has been sourced from Turkey. This underscores the increasing global appeal and recognition of Turkish storytelling.

Trends in Genre Preferences

The data revealed that crime shows dominated the European scripted series landscape, accounting for 44% of the content on offer. Drama series followed closely, occupying 34% of the market. Comedies and telenovelas, while present, occupied a smaller share of viewership.However, the report also highlighted a notable trend within the crime genre: a rise in lighthearted, character-driven crime series. This niche genre has found particular success in the French, Danish, and German markets, as well as among viewers across Europe. Examples cited include the UK's "The Good Ship Murder" and France's "Panda," both of which feature recognizable stars from reality TV singing shows in the lead roles.

Diverse Narratives and Innovative Approaches

Beyond the genre trends, the report also showcased a range of innovative and diverse narratives emerging in the European television landscape. These include:Family series that explore parenting and cultural identity, such as Denmark's "De Bedste År" and Ireland's "Faithless."Reality-based fiction series that delve into nationally significant events and ordinary characters, like Spain's "Las Abogadas" and the UK's "Mr. Bates vs. the Post Office."Series that adapt popular cinema IP, such as Poland's "The Butler" and Italy's "All You Need Is Crime."These diverse storytelling approaches demonstrate the richness and creativity within the European television industry, as producers and creators seek to captivate audiences with fresh, compelling narratives.

Case Studies: Exploring the Complexities of European Series Production

The European Series Day also featured in-depth case studies from creators, showrunners, producers, writers, and directors affiliated with several notable European series. These case studies provided valuable insights into the challenges and considerations involved in bringing these productions to life.One such series, "A Better Place," is the first German series under the StudioCanal umbrella, co-produced with Komplizen Serien. The producers, Nicolas Loock and David Keitsch, discussed the series' unique approach, which uses the hook of "Imagine a world without prisons" to explore ethical questions of revenge and forgiveness. They emphasized the importance of public broadcasting as the best platform to defend their creative freedom and vision.Similarly, the producers of "The Kollective," Femke Wolting from the Netherlands' Submarine, shared their experience in creating a global thriller series that delves into the world of digital investigative journalism. The writers, including Edward Hemming, highlighted the series' inspiration from the citizen journalist movement and the need to find collaborators who could bring this compelling topic to life beyond the protagonists sitting behind computers.These case studies underscored the complexities and creative challenges faced by European series producers, as they navigate the evolving landscape and strive to deliver captivating, thought-provoking content to audiences across the continent.