TV Production Slowdown Fuels Global Content Shift

The post-Peak TV era is characterized by a significant slowdown in production, with Western European scripted series now taking an average of 40% longer to reach screens compared to 2020. This bottleneck, rather than a decline in commissions, is straining the industry's supply chain. While overall revenue has decreased, spending on original content has seen a minimal reduction of 3%.

New revenue streams, such as VOD and FAST advertising, are emerging, but platforms are increasingly focusing on content acquisition over new commissions. Genres like sci-fi and fantasy are being sidelined due to their lengthy production cycles, while unscripted formats and crime thrillers are gaining prominence for their faster turnaround times. Asia Pacific content is filling the acquisition gap, though viewer demand still favors crime and thriller narratives globally.

Crime and thriller content, particularly originating from Western European broadcasters, represents 28% of scripted titles with production times under two years. This genre aligns audience preferences with efficient production capabilities. The future may also see growth in micro dramas and international markets like Turkey and Brazil, emphasizing production efficiency and vertical-screen content.