The European Audiovisual Observatory, part of the Council of Europe in Strasbourg, has recently published a new edition of the Audiovisual fiction production report. This comprehensive analysis delves into various aspects such as the volume of TV/SVoD fiction films and series produced in Europe, their origin, international co-productions, and the key commissioners and producers. Dr. Agnes Schneeberger, an Analyst within the Observatory’s Department for Market Information, authored this significant report.

Unveiling the Trends in European Audiovisual Fiction Production

Turning Point in TV Fiction Production in Europe

In 2023, the European TV fiction production witnessed a significant turning point. The number of titles saw a decline of 6 percent across all formats. The perpetual boom of high-end series, which typically had 13 episodes or less per season, came to an end as the number of titles for 2023 remained stagnant, with a 2 percent decrease compared to the previous year. This downturn in production is a notable shift in the European TV fiction market.Over half of the fiction titles produced in Europe in 2023 were commissioned by public service broadcasters, accounting for 55 percent. Private broadcasters followed with 31 percent, and global streamers made up 14 percent. This distribution showcases the diverse sources of commissioning in the European audiovisual industry.

Downturn in TV Fiction Production: Post-Pandemic Effects

The post-pandemic recovery did not sustain the stability of the European TV fiction market. After a brief period of growth, the production and release of original TV fiction began to decline. A 6 percent drop in the number of fiction titles was mirrored by an equal reduction in the number of episodes (also 6 percent) and a stagnation in the volume of hours (3 percent) when compared to the previous year.On average, Europe produces over 1200 titles, 23000 episodes, and 14000 hours of audiovisual fiction each year. This includes countries like the EU27, the UK, Norway, and Switzerland. More than 2000 production companies/groups were involved in producing at least one fiction title between 2015 and 2023, but only 3 percent of them were consistently active during the last nine years.Despite the downturn, some fundamental characteristics remained unchanged. Telenovelas/soaps accounted for a significant portion (61 percent) of the hours produced. Additionally, more than half (58 percent) of all titles produced were series with 13 episodes or less per season.

The End of the High-End Series Boom

The perpetual boom of high-end series has come to a halt. In 2023, the number of titles for high-end series regressed by 2 percent compared to the previous year. The production hours of series with 13 episodes or less per season also stagnated, with a 1 percent decrease. This can be attributed to seasons having fewer and shorter episodes, likely as a strategy to manage production costs and inflation.The UK emerged as the main producer of high-end series in 2023, with 159 titles. Germany followed with 119 titles, France with 92 titles, Italy with 58 titles, and Spain with 58 titles. BBC, Netflix, Amazon, ZDF, and ARD were the five main commissioners of these high-end series.

Public Broadcasters' Role in Fiction Production

Public service broadcasters commissioned 55 percent of the fiction titles and 39 percent of the hours produced in Europe in 2023. Due to their larger share in daily soaps and telenovelas, private broadcasters produced a higher volume of hours (57 percent) compared to public service broadcasters. Global streamers accounted for only 5 percent of the hours as they do not typically invest in long-running TV series.Co-productions made up 10 percent of all TV fiction titles produced in Europe in 2023. On average, over 100 TV fiction co-productions are produced each year, mostly high-end TV series and TV films.