Data shows Netflix is now the largest commissioner of new scripted shows in Europe, surpassing major local broadcasters
- Netflix was the largest commissioner of new scripted shows in Europe in 2020, data shows.
- Ampere Analysis found the streamer commissioned more scripted series than big local broadcasters.
- Netflix and its rivals are shaking up production markets internationally, including in Europe.
Netflix was the single largest commissioner of new scripted shows in Europe last year, data from Ampere Analysis shows.
The media-research firm found that Netflix commissioned 72 new scripted series in Europe in 2020, up from 43 series a year earlier, according to a report published on July 1.
The streaming service surpassed the commissions by even major local broadcasters BBC and ZDF, which respectively commissioned 54 and 55 new scripted series in 2020.
Netflix has made a significant mark in Europe, shaking up the production landscape and prompting local players to widen their appetites for content to compete. Germany's ZDF, long a home for fare like police procedurals, is even commissioning sitcoms now, local producers told Insider.
The boost in European production at Netflix came as the streaming service opened new hubs throughout Europe in 2019 and 2020, including in the UK and Spain. It now has offices in Amsterdam, Madrid, Berlin, London, Paris, Brussels, and Istanbul, and is set to open locations in Rome and Sweden.
The European Union has been pushing streamers in the region, like Netflix, to invest more in the local economy, by establishing a quota that starts in 2021 for how much European content must made available to local subscribers.
The Europe, Middle East, and Africa segment makes up roughly one third of Netflix's global subscriber base, with 68.5 million subscribers. Netflix has steadily grown in the region, both in terms of subscribers and average revenue per subscriber.
The streaming service is investing more in Europe as competitors like Disney+ and Discovery+ eye expansions in the region. Local producers told Insider it'll be hard for the newcomers to catch up.
Netflix has a "five-year advantage," said Nicola De Angelis, the co-CEO of the Italian production company Fabula Pictures (Netflix commissioned the series "Zero" from the company this year). He said the gap will be hard to close for other players, though he's also in conversations with Disney and Amazon to produce shows for their streaming businesses.