# US streaming services now fuel majority of UK television production

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/british-tv-revenue-surges-to-5-1b-but-domestic-spending-hits-decade-low-as-u-s-streamers-prop-up-industry/
- Published: 2026-09-09T02:08:46+00:00
- Updated: 2026-09-09T08:16:44+00:00
- Topics: Americas, Entertainment, TV, UK, World

## Key points

- Global streamers now dominate UK independent TV production commissions
- UK broadcaster spend fell below £2bn for first time since 2020
- Producer rights protections face growing pressure from industry changes

## Summary

Revenue for Britain's independent television producers reached its second-highest total on record in 2025, even as spending from UK broadcasters fell below £2 billion for the first time since 2020. The figures, published by industry body Pact, underline a decisive shift in the balance of power within British television, with global subscription streamers such as Netflix, Prime Video and Disney+ now driving the bulk of international commissions, while traditional public service broadcasters face sustained financial pressure and difficult choices about future output.

Pact's census showed UK television revenue fell 4.7% to £1.99 billion, but this was offset by international TV revenue rising 15.8% to £1.57 billion and non-TV revenue climbing to a record £258 million, pushing overall revenue up 4.1% to £3.81 billion. Subscription streamers accounted for 72.3% of all primary commissions from outside the UK, up from just 27% a decade ago, according to chief executive David Warner, who was presenting the figures for the first time since succeeding long-serving predecessor John McVay. Warner warned domestic broadcaster commissions had fallen for a third consecutive year, squeezing small and mid-sized producers, and cautioned that the "Terms of Trade" rules protecting producers' rights since 2003 face mounting scrutiny as Channel 4 explores an in-house production arm, Sky moves to acquire ITV, and the BBC questions whether the rules remain fit for purpose.

## Coverage

- [Variety: British TV Sector Revenues Hit $5.1 Billion Last Year Driven by U.S. Streamers: It ‘Underlines the Strength of the U.K. Production Market’](https://variety.com/2026/tv/global/british-tv-sector-revenues-streamers-1236854714/)
- [Deadline: International Revenues Of $2.1B Boost British TV Makers, Census Finds, As Pact Warns BBC Must Avoid “Managed Decline”](https://deadline.com/2026/09/pact-census-international-tv-revenues-up-1237070622/)

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.