New research from Ampere Analysis shows that scripted TV orders in North America were up 3% in 2025 year-on-year — marking the second consecutive year of growth. First-run scripted orders grew even faster, rising 7% year-on-year, underlining renewed momentum in the region as international commissioning volumes declined sharply.
North America’s recovery contrasts sharply with international markets, where scripted commissioning volumes fell 9% year-on-year. Budget pressures on public service broadcasters and a shift towards unscripted programming are weighing particularly heavily on Western Europe.
Growth in North American scripted output was fueled by a rebound in orders across SVoD, Pay TV and commercial free-to-air (FTA) broadcasters. Commercial FTA commissioners stood out, with scripted orders up 22% year on year.
The bounce back in North American commissioning was accompanied by a greater reliance on pre-existing IP, with adaptations and franchises accounting for 44% of scripted commissions in 2025, up from 41% in 2024. Commercial FTA broadcasters led this shift, with 57% of their scripted orders based on a pre-existing content brand, the highest share in five years.
"Commercial players are fighting back after several challenging years," said Cyrine Amor, Research Manager at Ampere Analysis, in a statement. "With continued pressure on content budgets, IP is becoming increasingly central to commissioners’ greenlighting process. Shaping content around pre-existing IP helps mitigate some of the risks associated with launching new Scripted productions. It also reflects a broader shift in how content is discovered as audiences move towards on-demand viewing. Basing scripted shows on established franchises or literary brands is now a key strategic priority, highlighting how critical IP ownership and content have become for producers.”
