France Achieves TV Programming Export File

Worldwide gross sales of French TV content material set an all-time document final 12 months regardless of extreme challenges brought on by the continued pandemic, in keeping with the annual report on home programming exports by the Nationwide Middle for Cinema and the Transferring Picture (CNC) and movie and TV promotional org Unifrance.

The COVID-19 disaster, the report notes, had many ramifications on worldwide distribution of TV content material that continued to be felt in 2021, together with the absence after which gradual restoration of bodily markets; an inflow of initiatives in post-production; delays within the supply of packages and difficulties in supplying new reveals; and financial uncertainties amongst broadcasters.

However, international gross sales, pre-sales and co-production funding in 2021 collectively reached €375.9 million ($373 million), up 6% from a 12 months earlier, in keeping with the report, introduced on Monday by Cécile Lacoue of the CNC and Unifrance’s Sarah Hemar on the Unifrance Rendez-Vous TV market in Biarritz.

Progress in international funding in French productions, which reached its highest degree since 2001, drove the rise. Overseas pre-sales rose 30.5%, and, for the primary time, surpassed the €100 million mark at €101.5 million. The international contribution to co-productions was up 10.2% for a complete of €88.4 million – the very best since 2003, when the determine attain €111.5 million.

Regardless of remaining excessive on the entire final 12 months at €186.1 million, worldwide gross sales throughout the board declined 5.5% from 2020.

Gross sales of drama sequence and films, nonetheless, noticed a marked enhance of 21.8% to €57.3 million, representing 30.8% of all gross sales. It was the second-highest degree ever after the document €63.7 million set in 2017.

Emmanuelle Jouanole, president of SEDPA, the French affiliation of TV distribution firms, stated growing demand for French content material amongst international streaming platforms, and their direct participation in creating content material, was making French scripted fare extra enticing for worldwide audiences.

Sizzling-selling titles included crime dramas resembling “Excessive Mental Potential” and “Paris Police 1900.”

Presales additionally elevated for scripted drama content material, reaching €45.5 million – practically two and a half instances greater than in 2020.

With a market share of 32.7%, animation stays France’s highest-exported style regardless of gross sales tumbling 18.5% to €60.8 million. This seems to be a short-term development linked to the cyclical nature of animation and in addition represents a drop carried by various giant firms, the report finds. Common toons embody “Brazen” and “The place’s Chicky.”

Animation can also be the main style with regards to presales, which fell 7.2% to a nonetheless wholesome €47 million.

Whereas presales for documentaries jumped 12% to €8.8 million, worldwide gross sales had been down 20.1% to €36.8 million, accounting for a 19.8% market share.

Documentary exporters had been hit notably laborious by supply delays because of the pandemic, with shoots postponed and bottlenecks in post-production, Hemar famous.

However, curiosity was excessive for historical past, journey and personalities, with such docs as “Kubrick by Kubrick,” “Iran From Above” and “Wonders of Northern Europe” proving notably profitable.

The geographical distribution of French content material modified little from 2020, with Western Europe nonetheless the most important export market, accounting for 43.3% of world earnings – the bottom share so far – with gross sales of €80.6 million (down 7.4% in contrast with 2020). The statistics mirror a development of diversifying export territories, Lacoue stated.

North America was in second place with gross sales of €23.3 million (down 7.8%) and a 12.5% market share, adopted by Asia/Oceania at €14.7 million (down 10.9%) and a 7.9% market share. Gross sales to Central and Jap Europe remained secure at €11.8 million and a 6.4% market share.

Gross sales of worldwide rights have stabilized above the €40 million mark for the third consecutive 12 months, reaching €41.1 million final 12 months – 22.1% of complete exports.

As well as, income from French programming on platforms in international territories reveals constant development, representing 33.5% of export income in 2021.

The VOD market stays in transition, with indicators of rationalization when it comes to shopping for on the a part of international VOD platforms, Lacoue identified. The emergence of latest alternatives for the circulation of French works can also be evident within the improvement of ad-supported video on demand companies, together with each AVOD and FAST operators.

The figures mirror the worldwide recognition of French productions, Hemar famous. “With our range of programming, we will fulfill all tastes.”

In the meantime, the worldwide spend for international initiatives in France soared to a complete of €678.6 million in 2021 – the very best degree ever recorded – due largely to the robust attraction of the nation’s Tax Rebate for Worldwide Productions (TRIP), in keeping with the report.