Europe’s audiovisual sector generated an estimated €142 billion in revenues in 2024, according to the European Audiovisual Observatory’s Key Trends 2026 report, with consumer spending continuing to act as the main driver of growth.
The Observatory said consumer revenues, including streaming subscriptions, pay-TV, cinema admissions and home video, accounted for more than half the total market at €72 billion.
Among the report’s main findings, European film production reached a record level in 2024, with 2,523 feature films produced across 36 markets. The total marked a historic high for the region and reflected continued recovery and expansion following the pandemic, supported by growth in both fiction and documentary output.
The report also highlighted the dominance of television series within the streaming economy. According to the data, 78% of viewing time on subscription video-on-demand services in Europe is spent on TV series, compared with 22% for films.
Global streamers are also taking a larger role in financing European content. Their share of spending on original European productions rose from 8% in 2020 to 24% in 2024, a shift the Observatory said reflected both regulatory pressure and stronger international demand for local stories.
Despite the scale of the regional industry, Europe still accounts for only 12% of revenues among the world’s largest entertainment companies, underlining the extent to which the global market remains led by US-based groups.
The Observatory added that international digital platforms including Netflix, YouTube and Meta are now among the leading audiovisual players active in Europe, illustrating the increasing competitive pressure facing local operators and producers.
