Paperwork, characters boost French TV exports

BIARRITZ -- Driven by documentary and animation programs sales, French TV exports rose 5.1% this year to achieve e105.six million ($148.4 million), based on figures revealed Wednesday in the TVFI Biarritz Rendez-Vous. TVFI's Mathieu Bejot stated the marketplace rebound concerned buying and selling volume a lot more than revs. "New digital channels that are presently important purchasers of French programs but they're generally trading less in original programming compared to traditional terrestrial tv stations," based on the report put together through the CNC and TVFI. Animated programs' sales advanced 9.1% to $48.9 million pounds, while docus' rose 13.7% to $37.a million. Formats ongoing to develop, producing $24.a million, a 4.9% increase on 2009. Meanwhile, drama sales fell 11.6% to $26.8 million. Bejot stated the revenue drop was mainly because of decreasing production levels and also the wrap of these best-selling, lengthy-running series as "Navarro" and "Julie Lescaut." Bejot also stated specific good examples of fiction drama series which have obtained top rankings overseas, for example "Spiral, " that is offered by Newen Distribution. "Spiral"'s format continues to be optioned by BBC America, per Bejot. Worldwide co-production investment rose 7.2% to $88.two million and pre-sales fell 12.9% to $42.8 million. These figures were bolstered through the comicbook-based series "XIII," that was commissioned by Canal Plus and received large co-production and pre-sales investment in the U.S. and Canada, based on Caroline Jeanneau, mind of studies and statistics in the CNC. The European Union continued to be no. 1 consumer of Gallic programs, repping just below 60% of French exports' total sales revenues with $87.4 million put in 2010. Sales to The United States rose 28.3% to $17.3 million, while Latin America's rose 61.1% to $5.two million. Scandinavia demonstrated the greatest spike with additional 66.6% to $10.two million. Deals to Asia also rose 18.6% to achieve a proper $14.3 million, driven with a progression in sales from Southeastern Asian nations including Japan. Contact the range newsroom at news@variety.com