Europe’s audiovisual sector generated some €142 billion ($164.7 billion) in revenues in 2024, driven largely by consumer spending, which accounted for more than 50% (€72 billion) via streaming subscriptions, pay-TV, cinema tickets and home video, making it the primary engine of growth.
The European Audiovisual Observatory presented the latest data from the film and TV sector in its newly published Key Trends 2026 report on Wednesday, offering a snapshot of how the European audiovisual sector is evolving, from the creative workforce and production trends to changing viewing habits, market dynamics and global competition.
The 11th edition of the Key Trends report specifically examines developments in advertising, pay services, broadcasting and production.
Among the main takeaways: European film production hit a record high in 2024, with 2,523 feature films produced across 36 markets, confirming a strong recovery and continued growth since the pandemic. The increase was driven by both fiction and documentary output, while production budgets also continued to rise across much of Europe, according to the report.
On the SVOD and TV front, the European Audiovisual Observatory found that audiences in Europe spend most of their streaming time watching series rather than films — 78% vs. 22% — underscoring how episodic storytelling has become the dominant format in the streaming economy.
The report also notes that while “SVOD services have become an essential part of the European audiovisual landscape, accounting for around 60% of all pay-service subscriptions in 2024, compared to 40% for pay TV” and the only growing segment, they now appear to be approaching maturity. “The SVOD market is driven more by tariff increases and/or the launch of advertising-supported tiers than by expansion of the subscriber base,” it adds.
Another key takeaway: Streaming services are investing more in European content. Global streaming platforms increased their share of spending on original European programming from 8% in 2020 to 24% in 2024, reflecting both regulatory incentives and increasing demand for local content across global markets.
Of Europe’s overall scripted films and series produced between 2015 and 2023, 14% were adaptations – the equivalent of 1,524 film and TV series adaptations. On average, over 160 titles and more than 1,400 hours of audiovisual fiction adaptations are produced each year in Europe.
Looking at European TV and SVOD fiction adaptations, a large majority — 88% — are based on original European works, with more than half coming from the U.K. (23%), Germany (17%), France (10%) and Spain (7%). Only one in 10 (12%) of all European audiovisual fiction adaptations are based on non-European works, 6% of which originate from the U.S.
On a more sobering note, European Audiovisual Observatory found that European players, despite a vibrant domestic industry, account for just 12% of international entertainment sector revenue, far behind the U.S., which dominates the global market.
Major global platforms such as Netflix, YouTube and Meta, meanwhile, are now among the leading audiovisual players operating in Europe.