3 TV Shows That Boosted UK TV Export Sales

The TV industry is undoubtedly a booming one, and with more ways to access your favourite shows than ever before, it shows no signs of slowing down!

Whether you’re an avid streamer or prefer to follow TV guides, the magnitude of shows at your disposal is phenomenal. But, what shows outshine the rest? Recent research from Betway Casino has shown that a handful of UK shows, in particular, have had a huge impact on the rest of the world. Without further ado, let’s take a look at the shows that boosted UK TV export sales.

UK Shows That Boosted Export Sales

Over the last year, the UK TV export industry generated a whopping £1.48 billion. This figure alone highlights just how much success the UK’s TV industry reaps, influencing the rest of the world on a daily basis.

Believe it or not, just three UK shows contributed to a huge 70% of the above sales. These were:

  • Doctor Who
  • Downton Abbey
  • Planet Earth

These shows surpassed £1 billion in sales, healthily contributing towards the UK’s largest source of income! Have you watched any of them?

Following on from this success, reality shows Love Island and Come Dine With Me generated 11% of total sales. Both shows have been adapted into several international versions.

Most Popular UK Shows Of All Time

There’s no denying that UK shows are popular all around the globe. As well as analysing sales from the past year, Betway also took a look into the most popular shows of all time. Splitting the results up into four categories, here are UK shows worth watching right this second:

1. Great British Bake Off

From the United States to Italy, The Great British Bake Off has been licensed to 26 different regions. When you put it out like that, it’s not surprising that the show contributed to 28% of all UK export income in 2020.

2. Strictly Come Dancing

Dancing with the Stars (known in the UK as Strictly Come Dancing) has aired more than 270 seasons in over 50 countries, resulting in a staggering 500 million viewers worldwide.

3. Britain’s Got Talent

(Britain’s) Got Talent amounted to 78 worldwide sales, awarding it the title of the show with the widest reach.

4. The Office (US)

Although the UK Office came to the scene first, the US version of The Office became a 22-episode per season success, attracting millions of viewers and rolling for a total of nine seasons.

The American version has an 8.9 rating on IMDb, while the UK edition has an 8.5 star rating and ranks 558th in terms of worldwide appeal.

What To Expect From The Future Of UK TV

The UK’s entertainment income is anticipated to rise over the next five years, from £71.3 billion in 2021 to £87.9 billion in 2025. This indicates an increase in the quality and quantity of UK programming, as well as a rise in TV exports sales.

However, this could all change with the onset of Brexit, which may alter Europe’s huge contribution to UK TV export sales. Now would be a good time for the UK to build stronger relationships with other export markets like Latin America and Asia.