Netflix & Co spur investment in European films
Competition from global streaming services has prompted private European broadcasters to invest more in original content. This was the finding of a ten-year analysis by the European Audiovisual Information Office.
From 2011 to 2021, according to the "Investments in original European content" report, investment in in-house productions rose from €12.7 billion to €17.4 billion, with global streaming platforms accounting for €2.8 billion of this most recently. With the exception of a dip in 2020, investments have increased more since the emergence of streamers in 2015 than before. Among streamers, Netflix is responsible for about half of the investment in European originals.
European original content refers to productions ranging from fiction to documentaries to talk shows that were produced in an EU country, the United Kingdom or Norway.
Looking at the individual countries, the Danes are the strongest public-sector investors, accounting for 74 percent of total investments in European original content, followed by the Netherlands and Germany. Spain benefits the most: While public broadcasters account for only 14 percent of total original content investments in the country, global streamers account for 37 percent here, a percentage higher than for any other country.
Around 30 percent of all investments in original content (five billion euros) in Europe go to the United Kingdom. The strongest increase here over the past ten years was recorded by Poland, Spain and Sweden.
More funds for Swiss filmmakers
This development is also likely to be seen in Switzerland. Swiss filmmakers will have around CHF 20 million more per year at their disposal for their work in the future following the clear "Lex Netflix" vote in May 2022.
Like domestic TV broadcasters, global streaming services will now also have to invest part of their revenue in Swiss filmmaking. From the beginning of 2024, companies such as Netflix and Disney+ will be required by law to invest four percent of their revenue generated in Switzerland in Swiss film and series productions. In addition, they must now carry 30 percent European films in their offerings. (sda.)
