International Sales Up for French TV Programs

BIARRITZ: Last year, the sales of French TV programs around the globe grew 4.8 percent, reaching 110.6 million euros ($142.6 million).

The total amount of TV exports, covering both sales and presales, is up 12.9 percent at 153.6 million euros. Presales were up by 40.9 percent with 43 million euros, which is the highest level since 2002. Co-productions are also on the rise, up 23.3 percent to 77.4 million euros, the highest level since 2004.

The growth is spread across all genres. Animation continues to lead, with 35.3 million euros, an increase of 1.6 percent on the prior year. Doc sales were up 2.6 percent from 2010, to 27.1 million euros. Fiction sales grew 4.5 percent to 20 million euros and formats gained 15.4 percent to 17.2 million euros.

Western Europe is still the largest buyer of French fare, contributing 61.3 million. The Asia Pacific has shown an increased interest, up 40.6 percent, overtaking Central and Eastern Europe for the first time since 2006 (though this region is also growing, up 12.6 percent). Latin America was up 12.2 percent and the Middle East grew 2.2 percent. North America’s French imports were relatively flat. Africa’s buying decreased 15.8 percent.

For the year 2011, foreign investments in French TV productions increased, with 120.4 million euros, a gain of 29.1 percent. Co-productions grew 23.3 percent to 77.4 million while international presales grew 40.9 percent to 43 million euros.

This is according to France’s Centre national du cinéma et de l’image animée (CNC) and TV France International.