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Ampere: Streamers to surpass broadcasters in content spending

The traditional TV sector is weighed down by lower projected investments from U.S. broadcasters after a windfall in ad revenue from the election and the Olympics.

The traditional TV sector is weighed down by lower projected investments from U.S. broadcasters after a windfall in ad revenue from the election and the Olympics.

The Fubo app on a Xumo Stream Box provided by Comcast. (Courtesy photo)
The Fubo app on a Xumo Stream Box provided by Comcast. (Courtesy photo)

Streaming platforms will surpass traditional television broadcasters in spending to develop original series and acquire licensed programming this year, according to a new forecast released by Ampere Analysis.

The forecast shows global content spending will increase by a fraction of a percent this year compared to 2024 — 0.4 percent, to be precise. The increase will see distributors spend around $248 billion to develop or acquire programming, compared to $247 billion last year, Ampere Analysis projected.



Content spending increased 2 percent after broadcasters and streaming platforms found themselves with an influx in advertising income, due in part to the 2024 Summer Olympic Games and the U.S. presidential election. The end of two Hollywood strikes also allowed film and TV production to resume, which created a rush for content by broadcasters and streaming platforms.

This year, streamers are expected to overtake traditional TV broadcasters in terms of content spending, with Ampere Analysis forecasting $95 billion spent to develop or acquire shows and films this year.



Streaming services will represent around 39 percent of global content spend this year, compared with 38 percent last year, Ampere Analysis projected. Commercial broadcasters will reduce their share of content spend to 37 percent, compared to 39 last year, while public broadcasters, theatrical studios and pay TV platforms will remain flat compared to 2024 investments.

(Chart courtesy Ampere Analysis)
(Chart courtesy Ampere Analysis)

Ampere Analysis said the windfall from the 2024 Summer Olympic Games and the U.S. presidential election is now behind most traditional TV broadcasters, which accounts for their slight reduction in content spending this year. The U.S. broadcast sector weighed down Ampere Analysis’ projection for the global broadcast industry; outside the U.S., broadcasters remain committed to spending about as much as they did in 2024, Ampere Analysis noted.



“The continued growth of

spend, combined with the more cautious outlook of linear broadcasters, highlights the shifting role of traditional television as viewer demand turns to digital platforms and streaming,” Peter Ingram, a research manager at Ampere Analysis, said in a statement.

Ampere Analysis cautioned that their projections may experience slight adjustments over time, because the 2024 figures were based on nine months of published revenue data, with the fourth quarter of 2024 not accounted for. The forecast for 2025 is for the full year.

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About the Author:

Matthew Keys

Matthew Keys is a nationally-recognized, award-winning journalist who has covered the business of media, technology, radio and television for more than 11 years. He is the publisher of The Desk and contributes to Know Techie, Digital Content Next and StreamTV Insider. He previously worked for Thomson Reuters, the Walt Disney Company, McNaughton Newspapers and Tribune Broadcasting. Connect with Matthew on LinkedIn by clicking or tapping here.
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