Exports of British-owned TV programmes climbed back to growth in 2024/25, breaking the £2.02 billion (€2.29 billion) mark for the first time, according to Pact’s latest UK TV Exports report.
The total was up from £1.82 billion (€2.07 billion) the previous year, after what the trade body described as several unsettling years in global markets.
The study, compiled by 3Vision, credits distributors with working harder to maximise value from existing catalogues. Library titles accounted for 44% of total sales, up four percentage points year-on-year, as buyers looked to back catalogue series such as Doctor Who, Ludwig, Nightsleeper and All Creatures Great and Small to fill schedules in a budget-constrained environment.
The United States retained its position as the largest market for UK TV exports, with revenues up 34% year-on-year. North America as a whole recorded the strongest regional growth, rising 32% to an all-time high of £977 million, while Europe and Australia also saw solid increases of 18% and 17% respectively. Italy and France both bounced back sharply after declines last year, whereas Latin America, Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa all registered significant falls, with steep drops in Mexico, South Africa and China.
Finished programme sales remained the biggest revenue stream, growing 5% to £1,069 million and accounting for 53% of exports, although still short of 2022/23 levels. International production rose 8% to £349 million, while formats and co-productions grew 13% and 5% to £244 million and £126 million respectively. Revenues from non-programme consumer products climbed to £212 million, representing 11% of total exports.
Scripted drama continued to dominate by genre, contributing 46% of export revenues and increasing its share by three percentage points. Entertainment slipped back to 24% after gains last year, while comedy and factual posted small declines and kids content increased its share by two percentage points. Against expectation, the report found sales to traditional broadcasters rising to 54% of the total, with a corresponding decline in sales to VOD services.
Pact CEO John McVay OBE said the figures underlined the enduring strength of UK content in a difficult economic climate: “The report shows that yet again despite the global economic challenges, British TV content continues to be attractive to international audiences. Although experiences for each distributor varies, the strength and quality of library catalogues is proving to be important as we navigate these difficulties over the coming years.”
