British TV Exports Top £1.3 Billion in Sales

LONDON: The latest international revenue figures show current sales for British TV programming at more than £1.3 billion ($1.6 billion), up 10 percent year on year.

According to the latest UK Television Exports report from the Producers Alliance for Cinema and Television (Pact), the U.K.’s largest export market remains the U.S.: in 2015-16 sales increased 16 percent to £497 million ($620 million). Revenue from Japan represented the largest increase by percentage though from last year, up 48 percent to £15 million ($18.7 million). Also seeing sizable percentage increases were India, China and South Korea, at 43 percent, 40 percent and 39 percent, respectively. Sales of British programming to Australia amounted to £106 million ($132 million), making it the U.K.’s second-biggest export market. Sales to France increased 5 percent to £73 million ($91 million) in 2015-16, making it Britain’s largest non-English-speaking market and its third biggest overall.

Exports of finished programming remained consistent with 2015-14 at £668 million ($834 million), marking the U.K.’s largest source of TV revenue. The second largest source of TV revenue is now sales of digital rights, which increased 79 percent to £248 million ($309 million).

Among the top-selling British exports were Sherlock and Doctor Who, as well as foreign-language series represented by British sales companies such as Germany’s Deutschland 83. Also ranking high with regard to international sales were Mysteries of Laura, Poldark, The Missing, Mr Selfridge, Aquarius and Midsomer Murders—each of which sold to more than 100 territories.

Looking at non-scripted, The X Factor and Top Gear were among the notable sellers.

Mark Garnier, the parliamentary under secretary of the State Department for International Trade (DIT), said: “U.K. programs are some of the most recognizable and eagerly anticipated in the world. British innovation and creativity, allied with high production values and the ownership of Intellectual Property that can be exploited globally, are considered among the greatest assets of the U.K. television sector. The Department for International Trade works in partnership with industry to ensure that independent British program-makers are given the support they need to reach the widest possible international audience.”

He added: “From small creative digital and animation companies to major production houses, the U.K. leads the world in television production and I look forward to continuing to work with you to grow U.K. exports.”