Markets

Richard O'Meara, Associate Director Drama and Insight at K7 Media with Patti Linnett, Global Research Manager at K7 Media, at MIPCOM presented an interesting conference title "Secrets of the Scripted Format:"Tracking the Scripted Giants 2023-2024".
Written by Dan Whitehead and Richard O’Meara, this comprehensive study tracks the top 100 traveling scripted TV formats from January 2023 to June 2024, highlighting trends that are shaping the global television industry.

The report comes at a time when the scripted format market is facing challenges, with overall sales showing a slight decline due to global economic pressures and the 2023 writers' and actors' strikes in the U.S. Despite these hurdles, the appetite for well-established scripted formats remains strong. According to K7 Media, the number of new adaptations launched in 2023 dropped to 65, compared to 77 in 2022, with the trend expected to continue into 2024.

Interestingly, most new adaptations were not revolutionary formats but long-running series that continue to resonate across diverse markets. Doctor Foster (BBC Studios), a domestic betrayal thriller, maintained its lead as the most adapted format during the report’s timeframe, with five new adaptations launched in Germany, Japan, Slovakia, Thailand, and the Middle East. This success highlights the enduring appeal of character-driven dramas that focus on universal themes such as family, trust, and revenge.

While established formats dominate the top of the list, the report also highlighted emerging scripted series that are gaining traction in international markets. One such rising star is High Intellectual Potential (HIP), a French crime-comedy about a brilliant but chaotic single mother who becomes an assistant detective. Originally launched in 2021, HIP saw three new adaptations in Greece, Hungary, and the Czech Republic. Its U.S. adaptation on ABC, titled High Potential, debuted in September 2024, earning praise for its strong lead character and clever case-driven narratives.

Other notable mentions include Call My Agent! (France), which launched three new versions in Indonesia, India, and a Czech-Slovak co-production. The show’s humorous take on the lives of celebrity agents has proven to be a cross-cultural hit, further cementing the global appeal of comedic drama formats.

One of the standout findings of this year’s report is the growing influence of South Korea as a leading format originator. South Korean distributors accounted for 24% of all new adaptations launched in 2023-2024, marking a significant shift in global content production. Notably, Korean formats such as Signal and Dr. Romantic continued to travel well, with new adaptations in Thailand, India, and Turkey.

The report also shed light on the types of formats gaining popularity across the globe. Romance, relationship dramas, and light crime thrillers are leading the charge, with each genre accounting for about 17% of new format sales. Human interest dramas and family-centered stories are increasingly in demand, reflecting a broader audience preference for relatable, emotionally driven content.

K7 Media highlighted that geographical boundaries are becoming less relevant as formats increasingly travel between diverse cultural markets. Asian and Middle Eastern countries, in particular, are becoming prolific buyers of scripted formats, with Thailand and Turkey topping the list of format buyers.

K7 Media’s presentation at MIPCOM emphasized that while the global scripted format market may be facing challenges, there is still strong demand for high-quality, adaptable scripted content. Established formats like Doctor Foster continue to dominate, while emerging formats such as HIP are quickly climbing the ranks.

As streaming platforms and regional broadcasters seek localized adaptations, the international scripted format market remains dynamic and full of opportunity. The next year will likely see even more cross-border collaborations and adaptations as producers seek to tap into diverse audience preferences across the world