“`html
France’s audiovisual export market contracted sharply in 2025, according to findings released this week by the French National Film Board and Unifrance at their annual conference in Le Havre. International sales of French television programs tumbled 21.6% to €164.3 million, marking the sector’s weakest performance in a decade. Officials attributed the downturn to challenging economic conditions and widespread market uncertainties, presenting a stark reversal from the previous year when exports had climbed 3% to reach their second-highest level in three decades.
Scripted drama maintained its position as the leading export category, though it experienced its first major decline since 2018, dropping 27% year-on-year. Procedural crime dramas proved most commercially viable, with titles like “Bright Minds” and “Deadly Tropics” leading sales. Documentary content surpassed animation for the first time, capturing over a quarter of total export value. The shift reflects changing buyer preferences, as international broadcasters increasingly gravitate toward established intellectual property and locally relevant programming.
Animation suffered the steepest losses, plummeting 30.3% amid industry consolidation and oversaturation in the global market. The decline was amplified by the liquidation of prominent French animation studios, including Cyber Group and TeamTO. Meanwhile, documentary maintained relative stability despite mounting export barriers as broadcasters worldwide prioritize regionally focused content strategies over internationally distributed programming.
“`
Originally reported by Variety →
About the Author
