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Guy Bisson executive director at Ampere and Cyrin Amore held an interesting presentation on the first day of Series Mania (Lille, March 24-28, 2025) titled A Year of Series.
Ampere's latest figures show a consistent top 10 in terms of commissioning countries for scripted series between 2022 and 2024 (excluding China). But within that stability lies significant movement. Japan continues to climb, driven by the explosive growth of anime. Meanwhile, the U.S. (excluding global streamers) has lost two percentage points in volume share—reflecting a noticeable contraction in original scripted output.
Interestingly, global streamers have also reduced their share of new scripted commissions, opening the door slightly wider for regional and national players. European markets, especially the UK and France, have gained marginally in share, suggesting new space for local content to flourish.
The Rise of European Producers
Zooming in on global streamer commissions within Europe, Ampere’s data reveals that large European production groups—such as Banijay, Mediawan, and Fédération Entertainment—are increasingly becoming go-to partners. This aligns with the broader trend of consolidation, where global platforms seek reliability and efficiency through experienced local partners.
Notably, some streamers are also leaning more on their in-house production arms or subsidiaries, consolidating creative control while also managing costs.
IP: A Safe Bet in a Risk-Averse Climate
In times of uncertainty, content based on pre-existing IP is a safer bet—and Ampere’s numbers confirm it. In Western Europe, the share of new series based on existing IP has jumped by 4 percentage points, while public broadcasters saw a 5-point rise in such commissions. Literary IP dominates, while video games and remakes also play a growing role.
However, in North America, the share of IP-based commissions is actually declining. This is attributed to the shift in streamer strategy: moving away from flashy franchise-driven titles toward renewals and retention-focused programming.
Genre Trends: Crime, Comedy, and Kids Content on the Rise
Among Europe’s public broadcasters, crime continues to rule—making up a third of all renewals and over a quarter of new series. Meanwhile, children’s programming is experiencing a resurgence, with PSBs stepping in where commercial players and U.S. streamers have pulled back.
Comedy is a mixed bag: while its share among first-run series has decreased, it's gaining ground in renewals—indicating strong audience loyalty once a show is established. Comedy second seasons now rival crime in share of renewals.
Romance, by contrast, is on a global decline—both as a primary and secondary genre, including in unscripted formats like dating shows. Only romantic comedies have shown a slight uptick, suggesting a genre pivot is underway.
Thematic and Representational Insights
Ampere flagged some intriguing thematic shifts. Series exploring armed conflict, faith and religion (albeit from a low base), and mental health are on the rise. Social media-centric narratives—after a pandemic-era peak and post-2022 dip—are making a comeback, especially as creators and influencers become central to storytelling.
On representation, there's a concerning dip in LGBTQ+ lead content across most regions. However, gender parity is improving: 2024 data shows near-equal representation of male and female lead protagonists—a sharp contrast to 2022, when male leads dominated.
As Ampere’s team concluded, the current climate may be challenging—but it’s also one of opportunity. European producers are better positioned than ever to fill the content gap left by retreating U.S. players and cautious streamers. Key takeaways for European creatives: Lean into crime and drama genres. Prioritize strong, adaptable IP—especially literary-based. Consider comedy, particularly when blended with other genres. Embrace thematic relevance: social issues, mental health, or war.Center female leads where possible.Forge strategic alliances with streamers and broadcasters alike.
