French TV Exports Hit All-Time High

BIARRITZ: International sales of French TV programs reached an all-time record of 153.8 million euros ($171 million) in 2014, up 12.1 percent on the previous year, driven by fiction programming in particular.

Exports (sales and presales) increased by 17.1 percent to reach 210.3 million euros ($234.8 million), a historic record. There was an increase in foreign presales, which reached 56.5 million euros ($63.1 million) in 2014 (up 33.3 percent from 2013). However, there was a dip in co-production investment, which was down 18.9 percent to 56.3 million euros ($62.9 million).

The growth in international sales of French programs was driven by fiction in 2014, marking the fourth consecutive year of increases, to reach 38.9 million euros ($43.4 million), overtaking documentary as the second-biggest-selling genre. Animation remained the top-selling genre, reaching 45 million euros ($50.2 million), despite a 3.9-percent dip in international receipts. Sales of formats (fiction, game shows, light entertainment) increased by 3.5 percent to reach 22.8 million euros ($25.5 million).

Western Europe remained the leading market for French productions, with receipts from the region increasing by 7.8 percent. German-speaking countries remain the biggest buyer of French television programs in 2014 with 23 million euros ($25.7 million), up 39 percent, its highest level of all time. These territories were the top buyers in Western Europe for fiction and documentary. In Southern Europe, sales to Italy continued to grow (up 21.2 percent), while acquisitions in Spain contracted (down 13.7 percent). French-speaking markets (Belgium and Switzerland) extended their acquisitions, with a preference for fiction and documentary.

North America set an all-time record with an increase of 34.2 percent, mainly due to the acquisition of several drama series. The Asia Pacific returned to growth (up 32.9 percent), as did Central and Eastern Europe (up 2.8 percent). However, Latin America fell back for the second consecutive year (down 17.1 percent), along with the Middle East (down 17.7 percent). Meanwhile, exports to Africa set a historic record, up by 65.5 percent.