Sales of British television shows to the U.S. reached an all-time high last year, as American buyers sought to enhance their content offerings, according to Pact’s latest UK TV Exports Report.

Revenue from UK distributors in the U.S. surged by 13% to £593M ($751M) during a challenging 2023, especially as income from countries like China and Japan declined. This £593M figure eclipsed the previous record of £574M set in the pandemic’s first year.

Pact, which represents numerous UK independent producers, stated that these figures indicate that the U.S. remains the primary focus for UK distributors. Despite facing specific challenges over the past two years, the U.S. continues to be the largest market for TV exports. Notable shows highlighted in the report for their success include Doctor Who, which launched its BBC-Disney+ revival, as well as Got Talent and The Voice from BBC Studios, Fremantle, and ITV Studios, respectively.

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The previous year saw significant changes in the U.S. market, characterized by a virtual production halt due to dual labor strikes, alongside major strategic re-evaluations by streaming platforms. As original content faced uncertainties, UK shows were increasingly utilized to fill the void, with reports indicating a surge in American viewers turning to UK streaming content post-strikes.

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However, the strikes, combined with “conditions of the global economy” and “rising production costs,” have put pressure on UK distributors’ global clientele, as reported by Pact, which also noted a 2% decline in the UK’s overall distributor revenue, totaling £1.82B.

The primary factor in this decline was reduced revenue from significant European markets, as well as China and Japan. Revenue from France and Spain dropped by 21% and 15%, respectively, while income from China and Japan fell by 25%, reaching only £17M and £8M, ranking them 13th and 18th overall. In Asia, distributor revenue hit a new low of £75M, down from over £100M prior to the pandemic.

There was, however, growth in turnover from Australian buyers, which ranked second only to the U.S. with a record £160M, while revenues from Germany and the Nordics increased by 8%, placing them third and fourth, respectively. You can view the chart below.

Person: Pact, BBC Studios, Fremantle, ITV Studios

Company Names: BBC, Disney+, China, Japan, France, Spain, Australia, Germany, Nordics

Titles: Doctor Who, Got Talent, The Voice

Disclaimer: This article has been auto-generated from a syndicated RSS feed and has not been edited by Vitrina staff. It is provided solely for informational purposes on a non-commercial basis.