French TV Exports Hit a Decade Low Amid Economic Challenges

France's television content exports faced a significant downturn in 2025, experiencing a 21.6% decline, according to a recent report from the French National Film Board (CNC) and Unifrance. This drop brings exports down to €164.3 million ($190.8 million), marking the lowest figures seen in ten years.

Presented at the Unifrance Rendez-Vous in Le Havre, the report highlights the stark contrast to 2024, when exports enjoyed a 3% increase, reaching €209.6 million. This previous year had been marked by resilience in export activity despite a challenging global economic backdrop.

Fiction Leads the Decline

In the realm of genres, scripted drama continues to dominate, making up 33.4% of the exports. However, it too faced a significant decline, with sales plummeting 27% to €54.9 million, the first major drop since 2018. Among the notable titles contributing to fiction sales were "Bright Minds," "Deadly Tropics," and "Alexandra Ehle," all of which resonate well with audiences but reflect a shrinking diversity in genre offerings.

Animation's Struggles and Documentary Rise

Animation, which had previously thrived, saw an alarming 30.3% decrease in sales, dipping to an all-time low of 19.6%. The downturn is compounded by the liquidation of once-prominent companies like Cyber Group and TeamTO. In contrast, documentary sales surged past animation for the first time, accounting for 26.2% of exports, with a slight decline of just 2.7% to €43.1 million.

Market Dynamics and Future Outlook

European broadcasters remain the primary consumers of French documentaries, particularly in Western Europe, though barriers to export are growing as local preferences take center stage. The report indicates a shift towards more localized content, which may affect the international appeal of French productions. Major documentary titles like "Machu Picchu: Secrets of the Lost City of the Incas" and "1939-1945: and the World Changes" continue to attract attention, yet the overall market remains cautious with buyers prioritizing established intellectual properties.

Source: variety.com