International growth and streaming build TV sales

The annual census from TV industry body Pact has reported that TV revenues for UK producers grew 21.3 per cent in 2022 to reach a record £3.9bn. The increase was driven by a 70 per cent jump in international revenues to £1.6bn, with slower growth in domestic TV to £2.2bn.

The pick-up in international sales follows two years of decline in international revenues. This growth is likely due to the return of multiple major UK international productions The Crown (shown above) and Sex Education, the UK launch of Apple TV and Disney + and the ongoing attractiveness of the UK TV market to global buyers.

Digital services, such as Netflix, Amazon, Apple TV and Disney+, significantly increased their spending on UK independent producers by 133 per cent, reaching a total of £696 million.

Domestically, digital commissioning grew to £155 million, more than double (129 per cent) the 2021 figure, probably due to broadcasters’ shifting commissioning strategies and prioritisation of their VOD services (e.g. iPlayer, ITVX, Channel 4, My5).

Overall commissioning revenues rose by 28.8 per cent to £3,3bn, with UK primary commissions increasing by 4.7 per cent to their highest ever level of £1,98bn.

Primary international commissions almost doubled (97 per cent) to a new high of £1,32 bn.

Conversely, there was a decline in secondary rights revenue to £407 million, down £102 million on 2021. Pact says this may be partially attributable to the increase in streaming activity, with SVOD platforms often taking all rights.

https://www.pact.co.uk/

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