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The UK has cemented its position as the biggest exporter of unscripted television formats, such as MasterChef and The Voice, underlining the importance of homegrown intellectual property as overseas rivals circle ITV’s production business.
The UK increased its number of overseas adaptations of homegrown formats by 18 per cent last year after several years of decline, according to data provider K7 Media, making it the only top five exporter to record growth.
Exported British formats accounted for about a third of all new TV adaptations worldwide in 2024. The year before, the UK’s market share was about a quarter — just slightly ahead of the US.
Newer formats such as The 1% Club — made by BBC Studios — and The Piano — by Fremantle — continued to sell strongly, K7 Media said, while older programmes such as MasterChef and Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? also had dozens of active versions worldwide.
ITV Studios, the TV production arm of the UK media group, had another successful year with older formats such as Come Dine With Me and Love Island as well as The Voice, which K7 Media said had 29 local versions returning for new seasons. ITV Studios also created successful spin-offs of popular shows, such as a junior version of The Voice.
The data highlights the strength of UK TV production as the government draws up proposals to support the creative industries in its forthcoming industrial strategy this summer.
Overseas groups such as Banijay, the French TV company, and RedBird IMI, the US-based investor that owns All3Media, have considered offers to buy or merge with ITV Studios, which was the second-biggest distributor by volume of active adaptations in 2024.
“British TV has a history of success around the globe,” said K7 Media boss Keri Lewis Brown. “What we’re seeing now is the UK’s storytelling heritage, format innovation and global collaboration showing resurgence in a challenging climate and fast-changing world.”
Creating homegrown TV shows that can then be sold to other markets is a more sustainably lucrative business model than making shows for overseas rivals such as US streamers, which also make many programmes in the UK.
Many shows being exported from the UK are made by public service broadcasters such as the BBC and ITV, which have called on the government to support the creative sector to help it compete with larger US streaming platforms.
K7 Media said more than 50 UK-originated format adaptations were already confirmed for 2025.
Executives have raised concerns this week about the reliance on US money after President Donald Trump threatened to impose 100 per cent tariffs on films made overseas.
“Britain is once again setting the pace for unscripted television around the world,” said K7 Media’s Trang Nguyen.
The group said French formats had also continued to sell well, including The A Talks, where celebrities are interviewed by journalists with autism. Japan is emerging as a strong source of formats in Asia. These include the comedy game show LOL: Last One Laughing, which has been given a big boost by its rapid Amazon rollout across international markets.
