United Kingdom Filmed Entertainment and Streaming Market

The UK has one of the most successful filmed entertainment and streaming markets in the world. Its wealth of home-grown talent, high quality production facilities, and broad range of government support and incentives, are collectively helping to drive post-Brexit and Covid-19 recovery, investment, and growth. U.S. companies play a significant and influential role across the UK filmed entertainment and streaming segments and there is enduring demand for U.S. films, television programs and associated services.

The UK filmed entertainment market, which includes film, television, and video production, post-production, and distribution activities, has an approximate annual turnover of $26 billion. Film production spend amounted to $1.9 billion in 2020. U.S. studio supported productions contributed to approximately seventy-eight percent of this total. The country is home to many large companies, such as 20th Century Fox and Sony Pictures, however most local and international firms in this sector are classed as small (1-200 employees). Twenty-five percent of films released in the UK in 2019 were U.S. made; representing fifty percent of box office earnings. Cinema admissions totaled 176.1 million in 2019 and are expected to increase following the end of the pandemic.

Spend on High End Television (HETV) productions amounted to $1.5 billion in 2020. The main television broadcasters, such as the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) and Independent Television (ITV), offer additional specialist channels and Broadcast-Video-on-Demand (BVoD) or Advertising-on-Demand (AVoD) catch-up services. Audiences also have the choice of various pay cable, digital satellite, and streaming subscriptions. U.S. companies, such as Netflix, Amazon, and Disney, are leading providers of subscription streaming services in the UK. Over the Top (OTT) services and the video market generated revenues of $3.8 billion in 2019. BVoD has the largest audience followed by online Video on Demand (VoD) and SVoD services. The shift towards streaming services is expected to continue as the market and service offering widens and demand grows. This is driving demand for content.

As demonstrated above, a robust creative environment, audience demand, and openness to U.S. investment, expertise and content is creating numerous opportunities for U.S. companies wishing to enter the market.

To request a full copy of this report or further information, please contact:

Cheryl Withers 
Commercial Specialist 
Email: Cheryl.Withers@trade.gov 
Tel: +44 (0)20 7891 3471