France moves up exports table

France was the world’s third biggest exporter of programmes last year, according to local ratings institute Médiamétrie’s international arm Eurodata TV Worldwide.

Eurodata’s NewOnTheAir survey, which analyses new shows launching in the main 50 territories worldwide, has published data showing for most active exporting countries, distributors and production groups in 2016.

A total of 8,350 new shows launched in the countries surveyed, a stable 53% of which were originals. Scripted accounted for 40% of the programmes, continuing its upward trend with a one-point gain on the previuous year. Factual was up two points at 20%, equal with entertainment, which fell by three points.

The US and UK were, as expected, the biggest exporters by far, with more than 1,350 and 1,000 shows respectively (either finished programming or format adaptations).

France came third, rising one position on the previous year, with more than 150 shows launching abroad. Germany was in fourth place with over 115 launches and Canada fifth with more than 90.

In 2015, France was in fourth position, Canada third after the US and UK, and Australia was fifth, said Médiamétrie. However, it declined to give precise comparative figures as the survey parameters not been exactly the same.

Among the smaller exporters, Brazil, United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Ukraine improved their export positions the most, according to the survey.

Brazil improved by 50% thanks to sales of its telenovelas in Latin America, as well as in Africa and the US. Ukraine also doubled its exports, thanks to more Russian sales, but also its adaptation of drama series The Sniffer in Japan. UAE tripled sales but only in its own local region.

As for international distributors, BBC Worldwide was the more successful last year, with more than 280 of its shows having launched abroad. NBC Universal, 20th Century Fox and Warner Bros came next, with 120 shows each.

Among the producers, the BBC comes first with more than 340 launches. Endemol Shine was next with at least 200 shows, Banijay Zodiak and Warner Bros equal with over 170, and ITV next with over 150.

The BBC also held the top position, both as a distributor and producer, in 2015, according to Médiamétrie.