The 2026 Pact TV Production Census shows that total independent TV sector revenues increased by 4.1% to reach £3.81 billion in 2025. This is an increase of £149 million on 2024 revenues. The growth was largely driven by SVOD investment in the UK, which reached record levels.
The Pact Census is conducted through a detailed financial survey of Pact members. This year, 91 complete responses were received. These companies represent around 83% of the total industry turnover.
Here's what else the data tells us...
International TV Revenues
Reached Second Highest Level
International TV revenues rose by £214 million to £1.57 billion (an increase of 15.8% year-on-year), growing for the first time since the post-Covid rebound in 2022.
These international TV revenues represented 41.1% of total revenues in 2025 and reflected rising primary commissioning revenue across both linear and digital increasing to £1.27 billion – a 12.2% increase on 2024.
International digital commissions grew by 7.9% to a record £916 million, accounting for 72.3% of international TV revenue. SVOD (such as Netflix, Amazon, etc.) investment in the UK is now at an all-time high as maturing platforms continue to grow their commissioning budgets, cementing the UK’s position as a destination for high-value productions due to the UK’s attractive production skills, talent and investment ecosystem.
International sales of finished programmes returned to usual levels, recovering from the 2023-24 production backlog after a sharp 26.8% decline in 2024 with SVODs investing in high value productions such as The Gentlemen, Steal, Dept. Q. and Legends within the UK.
But the benefits are not evenly distributed across the sector with smaller companies (those earning under £25 million) accounting for only 15.5% of total international commissioning revenue.
Domestic TV Revenues
Fell Below £2 Billion
Domestic TV revenues contracted by £98 million, falling just below the £2 billion mark for the first time in five years to £1.99 billion (4.7% year-on-year). This decline was driven largely by a drop in UK primary commissions by 4.67% to £1.65 billion with a small decline in PSB spend and a larger decline in multichannel spend. This slowdown was caused by multiple factors including a contraction in the advertising market, a shift in viewers away from broadcast TV and continued inflationary pressures on productions costs.
The majority of primary commissioning revenue continued to originate from PSBs, with their share remaining steady at 85.9% (£1.42 billion). Note this figure does not include international SVOD revenues.
Non-TV Revenues
Double
Non-TV revenues grew by £34 million in 2025, having now more than doubled since 2022 (116% increase).
This growth came from UK feature films, TV producers' management and event production, and advertising, as producers continue to diversify their revenue streams from last year.
Secondary Rights
Revenues Grew
Producers focused on secondary rights revenue as primary commissioning slows down. Secondary rights revenue grew by 12.7% from 2024 to £575 million in 2025 – a record level. This consisted of repeat fees and international sales of finished programming.
Revenue from distribution advances has also been steadily increasing since 2019, reaching 23% in 2025 (compared with 19% in 2024), as the cost of production has increased and PSBs and others have been unable to keep pace with rising costs. While distribution advances have always been common across the sector, revenue increases from distribution advances often means producers are taking on larger advances through the pre-sale of rights in the secondary market and as such it will likely take producers longer to pay these advances and recoup revenue.
Nations and Regions
Revenues Increased
Spend on Nations and Regions productions returned to 52% in 2025, after falling to 48% in 2024. Scotland saw growth for the second consecutive year, with their share of primary commissioning revenue increasing by 4% in 2025 to 16% (compared with 12% in 2024).
Primary commissions produced in the Nations and Regions, such as Under Salt Marsh and Yorkshire Vet, generated £1.25 billion in revenue in 2025, a 7% increase on 2024, driven sharply by an increase in international commissioner spend. International commissions rose to 35% of all primary commissions, while the share of spend from UK PSB network commissions returned to 2023 levels at 58% (a 10% decrease).