As the prospect of Britain leaving the European Union looms large, the latest figures show that 1,230 television channels and 201 paid video-on-demand services are established in the United Kingdom, many of which target other European markets. The United Kingdom is also the largest contributor to the supply of audiovisual services in the 28 European Union countries, as home to 28% of its television channels and 24% of online video subscription services.

At the end of 2018, there were 4,470 television channels, excluding local channels, based in the 28 European Union countries, with 853 paid on-demand services.

More than one fifth of all television channels based in the 28 European Union countries, a total of 917, specifically target other European Union countries. 306 paid on-demand services target other European Union countries.

The United Kingdom had 1,230 licensed television channels. Germany followed far behind with 369 national television channels, although the Russian Federation had 588.

There were 477 television channels licensed in the United Kingdom targeting other European Union markets at the end of 2018.

The United Kingdom was in 2018 by far the major hub for paid on-demand services targeting foreign markets, with 99 serving other countries in the European Union.

Interestingly, Ireland had the second highest number of paid on-demand services, with 125 licensed there, of which 91 targeted other European Union countries.

The United Kingdom, the Czech Republic and Luxembourg accounted for 69% of all television channels targeting other European Union countries. 75% of paid on-demand services were based in the United Kingdom, Ireland or the Netherlands.

The numbers are taken from a new publication, Audiovisual media services in Europe: Market insights, produced by the European Audiovisual Observatory, part of the Council of Europe in Strasbourg. Based on data analyses of 2018 data from the MAVISE database, this publication provides an overview of the European audiovisual media landscape.

www.obs.coe.int