Global Demand for French TV Falls Off a Cliff

France's TV shows had a banner year in 2024—and then the floor dropped out. A new report from France's National Film Board (CNC) and Unifrance says international sales of French audiovisual programs slid nearly 22% in 2025 to about $191 million, the weakest showing in a decade, amid shrinking TV advertising markets and tighter broadcaster budgets. Fiction still led exports at a third of sales but tumbled 27%, reports Variety, while animation hit a record low after key studios collapsed and global demand cooled. Documentary was the relative bright spot, edging past animation for the first time and slipping just 2.7%, buoyed by big "event" titles like Machu Picchu and World War II projects. "Overall, buyers are more cautious and risk-averse, focusing on shows that are easy for audiences to identify and market," says the CNC's Cécile Lacoue, per Broadcast.