British TV exports around the world fell slightly in 2023-24, down 2% on the previous year, to £1,818 million according to Pact’s annual TV Exports Report. Although, this is still 27% higher than sales in 2020-21. The report found that, despite the challenges in the US market over the past 24 months, the US continues to be the largest destination for UK TV exports, accounting for almost one third of exports, and it remains the region of primary focus for British distributors. Sales to the US grew by 13% year on year to a new high of £593 million.
Other countries in the top 10 that experienced growth included The Netherlands (25% increase to £35 million) and South Africa (20% increase to £27 million). Germany and The Nordics both saw eight% increases, reaching their highest ever total export revenues (£118 million and £104 million respectively). Elsewhere in the top 10 countries, France, Italy and Spain all saw significant decreases, with France falling out of the top five for the first time.
Sales of co-productions fell by 28% compared to the previous year, to £120 million, which is likely due to a reduction in activity (especially premium drama) by some of the large US media companies that have partnered with companies in previous years. Meanwhile, finished programmes fell by 8% (to £1,019 million) but still remained the largest contributor by some way. International Productions grew significantly by 29%, to £325 million, increasing its share of total TV exports from 14 to 18%.
Finally, Scripted Drama continued to dominate the genre share of exports, but fell to 43% from 49% in the previous year, whereas Entertainment saw the biggest increase of 6% to 27%.
While British TV exports experienced a modest decline in 2023-24, the industry’s resilience is evident in its continued strength across key markets like the US, where record sales were achieved. Notable growth in regions such as The Netherlands and South Africa, alongside the expanding share of international productions, highlights the global appetite for UK content. However, the drop in co-productions and scripted drama signals a shift in market dynamics, with the rise of entertainment formats offering new opportunities. As the landscape evolves, British distributors will need to adapt strategically to maintain their competitive edge in an increasingly diverse and fluctuating global market.
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