Pact: U.K. TV Exports Top £1.2 Billion

LONDON: Annual sales of U.K. television programming around the world increased in 2012, according to the latest annual survey from Pact, which finds that the U.S. remains the most lucrative market for the British exports and China is rising in prominence.

Sales from the U.K. to the U.S. for TV programming is up 11 percent. American buyers spent £475 million ($762.8 million) on British content last year. Australasia is second to the U.S. in this regard, with sales in 2012 of £103 million ($165.4 million).

Overall, Pact's Television Exports Survey reports that sales to international markets grew to £1.224 billion ($1.97 billion) during the last calendar year. Among the strongest growth areas for 2012 are the Asian markets. Sales to China are up 90 percent, to Southeast Asia 26 percent and the Indian market is up 42 percent.

Scandinavia spent £63 million ($101.2 million) on U.K. exports, representing a 2-percent gain year on year. Sales to Latin America continue to rise steadily, up 24 percent for 2012; the Brazilian market alone has grown by 21 percent.

The number of co-productions is also increasing, having grown by 60 percent. Pact’s latest survey shows drama established alongside factual entertainment as a key driver of U.K. television exports.

Nick Baird, the chief executive at UK Trade & Investment, said: "From the smaller digital creative enterprises through to the major production companies who produce some of the world’s best known TV programs, the U.K. continues to show that nobody does it better when it comes to fresh ideas for quality entertainment.

"The U.K. also offers one of the world’s most competitive production environments. In 2013 the U.K. government introduced two different corporate tax reliefs. There are reliefs for producers of high-end TV, including drama, documentaries and comedy as well as animation producers. These reliefs have made the U.K. an even more attractive base for international co-productions."

Dawn McCarthy-Simpson, the director of market development at Pact, added: "The U.S. market remains the most important for U.K. indies but there is rapid growth in markets with large populations and business opportunities.

“The international market for U.K. content has never been stronger and Pact is supporting more than 200 companies at worldwide markets this year. Pact is supporting the U.K.’s biggest ever delegation to Realscreen in Washington D.C.—all 50 places were filled five months before the event."

Paul Dempsey, the president of global markets at BBC Worldwide, said: “Drama stands out as the most successful British export: shows like Parade's End, Sherlock and Downton Abbey have built a strong reputation for U.K. drama and made stars of British acting talent.

“Across the world we are seeing strong demand for British content. BBC Worldwide's export sales are up from £275 million [$441.7 million] last year to £296 million [$475.4 million] this year, on a like-for-like basis, and we continue to expect opportunities for growth across multiple territories. One particular example is Asia, where we are seeing strong demand for U.K. content in countries where we simply haven't experienced it before.”