Asia Surpasses North America and Europe to Lead in Streaming Scripted Series Orders
Asia has overtaken North America and Europe to become the world's leading region for streaming scripted series orders, according to new research from Ampere Analysis. The shift, recorded across the first half of 2026, reflects how major global streamers are increasingly turning to the Asia-Pacific region both to win new subscribers in emerging markets and to produce content with crossover appeal for audiences worldwide.
Between January and June, 36 percent of first-run scripted orders from six leading streamers (Prime Video, Apple TV+, Disney+, HBO Max, Netflix and Paramount+) came from the Asia-Pacific region, which secured 70 commissions compared with 46 in North America and 44 in Western Europe. India led the region with 25 orders, followed by South Korea, while Taiwan and the Philippines saw notable growth, including Netflix quadrupling its Taiwanese orders and Amazon unveiling five new Filipino series. Crime & Thriller emerged as the top genre, with drama also growing, while Sci-Fi & Fantasy orders declined sharply.
In short
- Asia-Pacific now leads the world in streaming scripted series orders
- APAC got 70 orders in H1 2026 versus 46 in North America
- India, South Korea drive activity; Taiwan and Philippines show fastest growth
Explained simply
Streaming services such as Netflix, Prime Video and Disney+ commission scripted series to attract and keep viewers. “Orders” means new programmes approved for production, while “first-run” refers to original series rather than older shows added to a service’s library.
Asia-Pacific includes markets such as India, South Korea, Taiwan and the Philippines, where local productions can serve growing audiences. Some series also find viewers abroad, giving streaming companies a reason to invest in stories made in the region.
The figures cover six major streaming services and compare new scripted commissions across regions. They offer a snapshot of where these companies are choosing to develop programmes, and which kinds of stories they are backing.
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