Download  “Audiovisual fiction production in Europe – 2022 figures” here

(New version of the report updated on 14 November 2023)

A new edition of the report “Audiovisual fiction production in Europe – 2022 figures” has just been published by the European Audiovisual Observatory, part of the Council of Europe in Strasbourg. The report analyses the volume of TV/SVOD fiction films and series produced in Europe, and of European origin according to main acting roles, the main commissioners and producers, and the crews of screenwriters and directors involved in their creation.

This new report finds that:

• In 2022, most TV fiction commissioned by global streamers was produced in the UK and Spain.
• The production and release of original TV fiction resumed growth in 2022 after a halt during the COVID-19 crisis.
• Well over half of fiction titles produced in Europe in 2022 were commissioned by public service broadcasters (56%), followed by private broadcasters (35%) and global streamers (9%).

Most TV fiction by global streamers produced in the UK and Spain

Production countries of fiction titles commissioned by global streamers

Map of Europe and flag icon © Copyright Showeet.com
Source: European Audiovisual Observatory analysis of data by The European Metadata Group
 

In 2022, most TV fiction commissioned by global streamers was produced in Spain and the United Kingdom (39 titles each), both homes to Netflix production hubs in Madrid and British Shepperton Studios. Other significant production hubs for streamers were the Nordic countries and France (2015-2022).

With a big boost in investment, global streamers released 228 original European fiction titles in 2022 (all formats), versus 127 in 2021. This represents a massive hike of 80% YoY. Two thirds of these were commissioned by Netflix (50%) and Amazon (17%).

TV fiction production resumed growth in 2022

­After a halt during the COVID-19 crisis, the production and release of original TV fiction resumed growth in 2022. However, the recovery of the market was not evenly spread. The 12% growth in the number of fiction titles produced in 2022 was not matched by volume of hours and number of episodes whose development stagnated when compared to 2021. On average, over 1 200 titles, 23 000 episodes and 14 000 hours (provisional figures. Title refers either to TV film title or a TV series season. Animation is not included) are produced in Europe each year (countries covered: EU27, the United Kingdom, Norwaym Switzerland and Iceland).

In recent years there has been growing interest in the production of shorter formats: High-end series (3 to 13 episodes) represented more than half of the titles produced in 2022 – a 105% growth since 2015. However, this remarkable development which continued throughout the COVID-19 crisis, did not equally translate into a notable growth of volume of hours as seasons had fewer and shorter episodes (probably as a way to cope with the increase in production costs and inflation). The episode duration of most TV series produced in Europe is longer than 16’ minutes, typically lasting 36’ to 65’ minutes.

­Public service broadcasters commission 56% of titles and 39% of hours 

Well over half of fiction titles produced in Europe in 2022 were commissioned by public service broadcasters (56%), followed by private broadcasters (35%) and global streamers (9%). However, since private broadcasters tend to dedicate a bigger share of their commissioning to daily soaps and telenovelas, they produced a higher volume of hours (58%) than public service broadcasters (39%). Global streamers accounted for 3% of hours as they do not invest in long running TV series. 
About 15 000 screenwriters and 7 000 directors were involved in the production of European original fiction between 2015 and 2022.

Download "Fair remuneration for audiovisual authors and performers in licensing agreements"

How can European law ensure a fair deal for our authors and performers in the audiovisual sector?

Following the screenwriters' and performers' strikes which hit Hollywood from the middle of 2023 onward, this new report looks at the various laws in Europe which aim at ensuring fair remuneration for our creative forces. How does each country apply them?

This new report - Fair remuneration for audiovisual authors and performers in licensing agreements - by the European Audiovisual Observatory examines how the EU Directive 2019/790 on Copyright and Related Rights in the Digital Single Market (CDSM Directive) aims to strengthen the position of authors and performers when licensing their exclusive rights for the use of their works or performances. The report looks at the approaches taken by member states to meet these challenges when implementing this directive, which was adopted in 2019 and was due to be transposed into national law in 2021. 

Chapter one provides a structured overview of the value chain involved in the creation of an audiovisual work, the various production stages and the associated rights which have to be licensed, with a particular focus on new online distribution models. Moving on to look at the economic rights of audiovisual authors and performers, the authors examine the nature of copyright and related rights, looking in particular at the possible transfer of rights to the producer. This chapter closes with a look at the various different types of contracts and related remuneration which are usual in today's European audiovisual sector.

Chapter two zooms in on the EU legal framework for fair remuneration. The authors underline that a well-functioning marketplace for copyright needs two major policy goals: Improving the lack of transparency in contractual relationships and restoring the balance between the bargaining power of the various contractual partners. This chapter then drills down into Chapter 3 of Title IV of the CDSM Directive and the various different provisions it contains concerning fair remuneration and transparency in exploitation contracts and how to ensure a well-functioning marketplace for copyright.

Chapter three zooms in even further on the implementation of Chapter 3 Title IV of the CDSM Directive, regarding the transfer of rights to the producer, how to ensure an appropriate and proportionate remuneration for authors and performers for the exploitation of their works and performances, and transparency obligations. The authors compare and contrast different approaches in seven EU member states -: Germany, France, Belgium, Hungary, the Netherlands, Slovenia and Spain. A detailed analysis of the regulatory framework in force in each of these member states is provided in the annex to this publication.
 
Chapter four analyses the role of collective bargaining in ensuring greater transparency in contractual arrangements and fair remuneration for creators in the audiovisual sector. It gives an overview of the various mechanisms envisaged at national level to this end. The report looks in particular at collective agreements, which are examined here in the light of European competition law, and collective management organisations, whose role and functioning are described. The authors take a practical look at examples of explore collective agreements and their application in Germany, Sweden, Denmark, Poland, France, Italy, the Netherlands and the United States. 

Chapter five walks the reader through recent EU case law in this field. Although the late transposition of the CDSM Directive in many member states does not yet allow for abundant case law, some key concepts related to appropriate and proportionate remuneration have already long been considered by national and international courts, which are examined here.
 
The authors  conclude by emphasising "how central the issue of fair remuneration for creators is at a global level, in particular in the context of streaming platforms, with a view to supporting the vitality and sustainability of the film and audiovisual sector."
 
A must-read new free report to understand how EU legislation aims at securing a fair remuneration deal for audiovisual authors and performers working in today's European audiovisual industries.

• Download "Annex of National case studies"