Television studio

Television marketing message: 1

The UK television industry has a truly global reach and appeal and international exports of UK TV programmes have grown steadily in recent years.

• The estimated total revenue from the international sale of UK TV programmes and associated activities was £1.42 billion in 2010, a 13 per cent increase on 2009. (1)

• The US is the UK's largest export market for television. Sales to the US grew by 13 per cent in 2010 to £526 million. (1)

• Overseas growth markets include Russia, where UK television sales went up 54 per cent in 2010, Poland (31 per cent), Australasia (27 per cent), Germany (26 per cent), Italy (24 per cent) and Canada (20 per cent). (1)

• The UK's largest source of TV income is finished programming. Sales in this area rose by 15 per cent to £657 million in 2010. Comedy, crime, drama and factual programming are key areas of UK expertise. (1)

• North America represented 42 per cent of the UK's total TV export revenue in 2010, with Europe contributing 31 per cent and Rest of the World 27 per cent. (1)

• The UK television and radio industry exported £2.8 billion in services in 2009. (2)

• Television and radio account for the second-highest percentage of the country's exports of creative services (2.6 per cent of the total). (2)

• The increasing expertise of UK distributors, both independents and those owned by broadcasters, is a key factor behind the growth in UK TV exports. Two-thirds of them posted growing revenues in 2009-2010, despite the challenging economic climate. (3)

• The UK is the global leader in TV formats. The overseas production of UK formats grew to £81 million in 2010 - a 119 per cent increase on the previous year (1). Recent successes include The X Factor, Dancing on Ice, Strictly Come Dancing, Wife Swap, Come Dine With Me, Top Gear and Masterchef. The international version of Strictly Come Dancing (Dancing with the Stars) was cited as the most successful reality TV format ever by the 2010 Guinness World Records. (4)

• The overseas production of new UK TV commissions rose by 229 per cent to £11 million in 2010. (1)

• Sales of UK TV digital rights stood at £10 million in 2010, an increase of 48 per cent. (1)

• BBC Worldwide's portfolio of 41 channels brings the best mix of entertainment, factual, learning and children's programming to around 343 million homes in over 100 countries around the world, making it Europe's largest channel exporter. BBC America is available in 70 million homes, more homes than the BBC is available in in the UK. (4)

• The BBC World Service broadcasts to the world on radio, on TV and online, providing news and information in 32 languages. (5)

• Theme tunes from British TV shows have been among the UK's most lucrative musical exports over the last decade. TV (theme tunes and scores) was one of the biggest growth areas for British songwriters and composers between 2000 and 2009, with revenues rising from £15 million to £50 million. Examples of success include Matthew and Keith Strachan, who were behind the music for Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?, and Paul Farrer, who wrote the music for The Weakest Link. Both of these shows have been sold to more than 100 countries. (6)

• UK TV broadcasters and producers have established successful overseas production bases in the US and elsewhere to take advantage of growing export markets. (7)

• UK TV companies are pioneering new ways of opening up overseas markets and are increasingly focused on formats and co-productions with overseas partners. (7)

• Overseas TV companies like Time Warner and NBC are investing in the UK to capitalise on its advantageous mix of expertise and opportunity. (7)

Sources

1.UK Television Exports Survey 2010, PACT

2. Creative Industries Economic Estimates, DCMS, December 2011

3. Broadcast Distributors Survey 2010

4. BBC Worldwide

5. www.bbc.co.uk

6. PRS for Music

7. Creative UK: The Audiovisual Sector & Economic Success, Communications Chambers, April 2011