Faith-based content is undergoing a notable resurgence in the global media industry as 2025 approaches, marking a shift in commissioning trends and strategic priorities across both traditional broadcasters and streaming platforms. A new report from Ampere Analysis reveals that platforms and networks are significantly expanding their investments in religious and spiritual programming, responding to a rise in global demand for content that explores themes of faith, morality, and community.
Amazon Prime Video stands out among the major streamers, having increased its faith-based content by 204% in 2024 alone—more than double its overall content growth rate of 100%. This surge includes a strong performance by titles such as "The Chosen," a crowd-funded hit series dramatizing the life of Jesus, and "The Baxters," a family-centered drama produced by Lightworkers Media, which is owned by Amazon MGM Studios. The growth underscores Amazon’s clear strategic emphasis on tapping into faith-driven audience segments.
Other major streaming services are following suit. Netflix, Hulu, and Max have each grown their faith-based libraries at a rate four times greater than their general content expansion, pointing to a deliberate pivot toward serving an audience that has long been underserved by mainstream entertainment. These platforms are not only acquiring more faith-oriented titles but also investing in original productions tailored to this demographic.
The commissioning of faith-based titles has steadily increased year over year since 2021. Public broadcasters account for a significant share of this growth, responsible for 40% of all faith-based titles commissioned during this period. Commercial free-to-air broadcasters are also stepping up their investment, commissioning 29% more faith-based titles in the second half of 2024 compared to the same timeframe in 2023. These numbers reflect a broader trend of diversification in content strategies, with networks responding to audience data that indicates an appetite for more values-based storytelling.
Within the faith-based category, unscripted content dominates, particularly documentaries and entertainment programs. Documentaries alone represent 42% of the total, with entertainment formats close behind at 41%. A significant portion of these unscripted projects—17%—are focused on Christian cults, aligning with the global popularity of true crime and investigative storytelling. This thematic overlap is helping faith-based content reach wider audiences beyond traditional religious viewers.
Geographically, Western Europe leads global production in the faith-based space, accounting for 53% of all such commissions between 2021 and 2024. Within this region, the trend toward unscripted content is especially pronounced, with 86% of Western Europe’s faith-based output falling into that category. This includes a growing number of lifestyle and history programs that incorporate religious themes or explore the cultural impact of spirituality.
The revival of faith-based content points to a meaningful recalibration within the entertainment industry, as both streaming services and traditional broadcasters look to capitalize on shifting viewer values. While much of the global content conversation has been dominated by genre fare like fantasy, sci-fi, and reality TV, the renewed focus on spiritual narratives signals an expanding definition of mainstream appeal. As 2025 unfolds, faith-based storytelling is poised to play a more prominent role in content strategies across markets, formats, and platforms.