Value of Spanish TV exports outstrips film for the first time

The value of Spanish TV exports increased 9.2%, taking the total to €42.7 million last year. For the first time, the value of TV exports exceeded that of movies, which garnered €31.5 million in sales in 2010, a 27.2% year-on-year decrease.

Figures released today by the Federation of Spanish Audiovisual Producers (FAPAE) revealed the increase, which helped offset the sharp decline in Spanish feature film exports.

FAPAE said that 201 marked a year of change on the Spanish TV business with advertising removed from public broadcaster TVE’s airtime, analogue switchover and industry consolidation.

These factors combined with the economic crisis led to broadcasters demanding cheaper content and producers looking at new ways of distributing their programming.

In turn that has led to an increase in the level of international business done by Spanish producers and distributors, an effort helped, FAPAE said, by the increasing number of pay TV channels launching around the world, providing new customers for Spanish series and formats.