Markets

Prensario International, a pioneering media company with almost 50 years in the entertainment business, and the National Association of Television Program Executives (NATPE) today revealed some of the main trends in the global content marketplace, based on the answers provided by 100+ key decision makers that participated in Prensario’s annual “Global Buyer Survey”.

Acquisitions, production and programming executives, including those from streamers, TV networks and producers, from all around the world, completed the poll and provided fresh, updated information on this season’s trends.

The majority of the answers came from North and South America (35%), followed by Europe (30%), APAC-MENA-Africa (20%), and worldwide platforms (15%). Buyers were able to select more than one answer on the four different questions proposed. 8 to 13-episode series was the top selected format, while drama remains to be the most requested genre worldwide.

The survey shed light over what type of rights, formats and genres buyers will be looking for LAVS, which takes place on May 11-20. The market is taking excellent shape with 500+ participants registered, from which +400 are buyers from 60+ countries.

When asked the “Type of Company” the buyers represented, SVOD was the top option with 55%, followed by Free TV with 47.5% and Pay TV with 37.5%. AVOD (32.5%), TVOD (30%) and Producers (25%) rounded out the responses, while 10% of the answers have come from Telcos/ISP/Mobile. There was also a new category this year, tech companies (apps), which added 5%.

In terms of the destination for the acquired content, “Digital Rights”, which covers business models such as SVOD, AVOD, TVOD and Telcos/ISPs/Mobile/Tech, have overtaken linear, free and pay, television. Moreover, following the individual answers it can be asserted that there is a large synergy between platforms. The majority of the linear TV buyers are also acquiring rights for their digital platforms on web, apps and other type of ad-supported services.

When asking buyers about “Type of Content”, 13-episodes series is by far the #1 format with 72.5% of the answers, followed by Movies with 55%, Formats with 45% and Miniseries with 37.5%. As for Linear TV, the classic telenovela of 60+ episodes continues to be relevant with 30% of the answers. Short format only received 17.5% of the answers.

Three clear changes have been noticed in this question, compared to VS Autumn 2020:

• Series remain the top format of the industry;
• Movies have grown from third to second position in demand;
• Formats have skyrocketed: they did appear in the ranking last year, and this year have come in as the third largest option, topping miniseries.

By “Genres”, Drama was top answer in VS Autumn 2020, followed by Thriller and Suspense/Action. This Spring, the difference from the first to the second and third option is minimum. Drama received 70% of the answers, while Thriller and Suspense/Action 65% each, followed by Comedy (50%).

All in all, Scripted programming is the most in demand genre but, again in this question, Unscripted confirms it has strong momentum coming in with 39% of the responses. Other big demands are Documentaries/Factual (35%) Kids& Teens (22.5%), Paranormal (15%) and Education (10%). But before all them, another thematic stands strong: Family content with 37.5%


With less than a month from its official launch, LA Virtual Screenings is already taking the attention of the global market. More than 500 executives from 60+ countries have already registered, and from them, 430 are buyers, including TV Channels, OTTs and Producers, but also investors, tech companies, agencies and advertising/brands.

Free registration is open and content professionals from around the world are welcome to participate and live the VS Experience, by registering at the website www.virtualscreenings.com for free.