International sales of French TV shows have plummeted, hitting a ten-year low of €164.2 million for 2025, a significant drop from 2024's figures.
On September 8, 2026, Deadline reported a significant decline in international sales of French television programs, with revenues for 2025 crashing to a ten-year low of €164.2 million ($190.7 million). This figure marks a 21.6% decrease from the €209.6 million recorded in 2024, indicating a troubling trend for French program distributors.
The data was unveiled at the Unifrance Rendez-Vous, held in Le Havre, France, a key market for French programs. Unifrance, which promotes French cinema and TV, along with the CNC, the regulatory body for French cinema, provided these figures. Unifrance President Gilles Pélisson emphasized the ongoing struggles facing distributors, noting that the bleak numbers reflect a broader "perfect storm" impacting the industry.
A combination of declining television advertising revenue and cautious spending by distributors has led to these financial challenges. As traditional media companies tighten their budgets, the purchase and commissioning of French content are heavily affected. This uncertainty has pushed acquisition executives towards risk-averse strategies.
Notably, co-production investment dipped by 18.7%, down to €87.7 million, primarily affecting dramatic content. International pre-sales fell drastically, showing a 59.3% decline year-on-year to just €30.7 million. The traditionally stronghold French animation has also struggled, experiencing a 30.3% drop to €32.2 million. Conversely, documentary sales fared slightly better, only dropping 2.7% to €43.1 million, suggesting a more stable interest in factual programming.
Geographically, nearly half of the sales were linked to buyers in Western Europe, with North America following as the second largest market. However, sales to Asian and Latin American territories reached all-time lows, further compounding the issues for French exporters.
Pélisson also highlighted a shift among streaming platforms towards 'local-for-local' acquisitions, as companies move away from broad, multi-territory agreements. This trend complicates the sales landscape for French content on a global scale.
Pélisson additionally called for improved transparency regarding viewership data from streaming platforms, which remain largely undisclosed. Without access to comprehensive data, producers struggle to understand the full value of their creative works, hampering their ability to secure necessary financing. As international sales plummet, the urgent need for better strategic approaches and potentially new funding models is becoming increasingly apparent. The figures not only reflect a significant decline in revenue but also hint at a changing landscape in international media consumption and distribution, impacting the visibility of French shows worldwide.
The stark decline in international sales of French TV programs underscores a challenging era for the French entertainment industry. With reduced revenues and evolving viewer expectations, French distributors face mounting pressures to adapt. As traditional revenue streams wane and market dynamics shift, the industry must urgently seek new strategies for marketing and sales.
The call for transparency in streaming data is particularly salient, as real insights into viewership can inform future productions and marketing efforts. This situation raises questions about the long-term sustainability of French TV exports and how they will navigate a rapidly changing global market.
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