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True Crime Dominates Streaming Despite Falling Commissions
15 Sep
Summary
- True crime documentaries remain popular despite fewer global commissions.
- Europe's demand for series is led by true crime, outpacing other genres.
- A new HBO Max series explores a 2026 gold heist in Berlin.
Data from Ampere Analysis reveals that true crime remains a dominant genre in television, despite a global decline in overall documentary commissions. While commissions for true crime dipped below 2,000 in the first half of 2026 from a 2022 peak, demand has remained robust. In Europe, true crime led series orders over the past two years, significantly exceeding other categories.
Subscription streamers, in particular, favor crime documentaries, which accounted for 35% of their orders between the first half of 2024 and the first half of 2026. This contrasts with public broadcasters, where arts and culture series are more prevalent. A new HBO Max original, "Clangold," premiering on November 13, 2026, exemplifies this trend by exploring a sensational 2026 gold coin heist from Berlin's Bode Museum.
