French television always as attractive abroad: good export figures

In 2024, sales of French audiovisual programs have crossed the threshold of 200 million euros for the 4th time for 30 years.

Good news for the tricolor audiovisual: despite an international context marked by budget cuts, the reluctance of buyers and the fall of the North American market, French programs continue to seduce beyond borders.

According to the annual study of the CNC and Unifrance, unveiled during the meetings of Unifrance in Le Havre, sales reached € 209.6 million in 2024, exceeding for the fourth time in thirty years the symbolic threshold of the 200 M €.

But it is above all the overall volume for export (sales, presale and co -productions) that impresses: € 401.2 million, a record, up 29.7 %compared to 2023. A dynamic carried by a spectacular rebound in co -production contributions (€ 116.2 million, +58.7 %) and foreign preventing (€ 75.4 million, +131.2 %).

What programs are best exported?

Fiction confirms its locomotive status with € 75.2 million in sales (+0.9 %), or 35.9 % of the total. “Light crime”, that is to say, the not too violent police series (tropics criminal or astrid and Raphaëlle) and the events (Cat’s Eyes, or fever) dominate exports.

The documentary follows with € 44.3 million, slightly decline (-6.2 %) but above the ten-year average.

The animation, it drops out squarely, in a fall of -10 % (€ 46.1 million) weighed down by the drastic drop in sales in North America (-36.8 %). Miraculous and Grizzy, however, continue to ensure a strong global presence, and the beginnings are on the rise (+104.1 %).

Where are French programs best?

Western Europe remains the number one zone (€ 90.5 million, 43.2 % of the market), ahead of central and eastern Europe (€ 16.6 million).

North America fell to its historic low (€ 16.5 million), while Belgium becomes the first buyer country (€ 24.4 million, +53.2 %), ahead of Germany/Austria (€ 12.6 million) and Italy (€ 12.5 million). The United States fell in 6th row with € 7.7 million.

Finally, multi -zone rights are on the rise (€ 57.9 million, +25.1 %), stimulated by the AVOD which doubled its income (€ 16.6 million). Proof that French production, rich and diversified, continues to impose its brand in an ever more selective globalized landscape.