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Television Production in the US - Market Research Report (2014-2029)

Alex Petridis Alex Petridis New York, United States Last Updated: November 2024 NAICS 51211b

Revenue

$49.5bn

2024

$49.5bn

Past 5-Year Growth

Profit

$X.Xbn

Employees

75,883

Businesses

11,234

Wages

$X.Xbn

Television Production in the US industry analysis

In the last few years, the Television Production industry has shrunk amid upheaval in the US media landscape. A sink in cable subscriptions and the emergence of online alternatives have increased competition among programming buyers to acquire top content. Yet the heightened degree of competition has contributed to a perceived climb in production quality and what some critics have labeled the newest “Golden Age of TV.” Industry revenue is expected to have fallen at a CAGR of 1.1% over the past five years and will reach an estimated $49.5 billion in 2024. This is largely a result of industry revenue plummeting in 2020 when the COVID-19 pandemic halted much of the industry’s operations. Revenue bounced back in 2021 as production resumed. However, industry-wide strikes caused major disruption in 2023. Ultimately, revenue is set to fall 0.2% in 2024 as profit similarly stagnates. 

Trends and Insights

  • The rise of streaming has ultimately been beneficial to TV production. While streaming has disrupted how television programs are distributed and consumed, demand for content is consistent.
  • Sports remain a strong suit for cable networks, despite streaming's growing presence. Sporting events, due to their live nature, offer a unique point of differentiation, bolstering the resilience of cable networks.
  • California and New York have the most industry locations. State incentives in the form of tax credits and rebates contribute to a large concentration of TV producers located in the California and New York metro areas.
  • Many production companies are vertically integrated with TV distribution. Vertical integration gives television production companies easier access to capital and can help manage costs.

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  • Market estimates from 2014-2029
  • Critical performance data and rankings
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Industry Statistics and Trends

Market size and recent performance (2014-2029)

Industry revenue has declined at a CAGR of 1.1 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated $49.5bn in 2024.

Trends and Insights

Demand for programming has remained strong

  • Consumers' overall demand for TV content has remained strong even as it has shifted between distribution channels – in particular, largely moving away from linear television (i.e., cable and broadcast) and toward online, on-demand streaming.
  • Additional trends and insights available with purchase
Television Production in the US
Revenue (2014-2029)
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry outlook (2024-2029)

Market size is projected to grow over the next five years.

Trends and Insights

A steady shift to streaming and rising consolidation persist

  • Consumers have been steadily shifting their diet of TV content toward streaming services and are showing no sign of this shift slowing in the coming years.

Biggest companies in the Television Production in the US

Company
Market Share (%)
2024
Revenue ($m)
2024
Profit ($m)
2024
Profit Margin (%)
2024
Walt Disney Co
13,406.5
2,315.8
17.3
Nbcuniversal Media, Llc
9,300.1
170.5
1.8
Viacomcbs Inc.
4,189.8
1.6
0.0

To view the market share and analysis for all 3 top companies in this industry, view purchase options.

Products & Services Segmentation

Television Production in the US
Products & Services
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry revenue is measured across several distinct product and services lines, including Dramas, Comedies and News. Dramas is the largest segment of the Television Production in the US.

Trends and Insights

News programs and live events lead the pack

  • Next to dramas, news programs are the genre that can command the most revenue from advertising expenditure. News shows can often be produced at a low cost. As a result, they have been purchased more as cable channels have proliferated and networks have sought to fill their lineups inexpensively.
  • More insights available in the full report

Table of Contents

About this industry

Industry definition

Companies in this industry produce TV programming that is then licensed or sold to broadcast or cable networks. Movie production is not included in this industry, with the exception of made-for-TV movie production.

What's included in this industry?

Producing TV dramasProducing TV comediesProducing news and event coverageProducing sports content for TVProducing reality and documentary TV programming

Companies

Walt Disney CoNbcuniversal Media, LlcViacomcbs Inc.

Purchase this report to view all 3 major companies in this industry.

Related Terms

SEASONSERIESPILOTDIGITAL TVSCRIPTED PROGRAMMINGREALITY PROGRAMMINGDIGITAL VIDEO RECORDER (DVR)SMARTPHONE

Industry Code

NAICS 2017

NAICS 512110 - Television Production in the US

Performance

Get an indication of the industry's health through historical, current and forward-looking trends in the performance indicators that make or break businesses.

Analyst insights

The rise of streaming has ultimately been beneficial to TV production. While streaming has disrupted how television programs are distributed and consumed, demand for content ...

In this chapter (4)

  • Current Performance
  • Outlook
  • Volatility
  • Life Cycle

Key metrics

  • Annual Revenue, Recent Growth, Forecast, Revenue Volatility
  • Number of Employees, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Employee
  • Number of Businesses, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Business
  • Total Profit, Profit Margin, Profit per Business

Charts

  • Revenue, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Employees, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Businesses, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Profit, including historical (2014-2024)
  • Industry Volatility vs. Revenue Growth
  • Industry Life Cycle

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in supply, demand and current events that are driving current industry performance
  • Expected trends, economic factors and ongoing events that drive the industry's outlook
  • Key success factors for businesses to overcome volatility
  • How contribution to GDP, industry saturation, innovation, consolidation, and technology and systems influence the industry's life cycle phase.

Products and Markets

Learn about an industry's products and services, markets and trends in international trade.

Analyst insight

Sports remain a strong suit for cable networks, despite streaming's growing presence. Sporting events, due to their live nature, offer a unique point of differentiation, bols...

In this chapter

  • Products & Services
  • Major Markets

Key metrics

  • Largest market segment and value in 2024
  • Product innovation level

Charts

  • Products & services segmentation in 2024
  • Major market segmentation in 2024

Detailed analysis

  • Trends impacting the recent performance of the industry's various segments
  • Innovations in the industry's product or service offering, specialization or delivery method
  • Key factors that successful businesses consider in their offerings
  • Buying segments and key trends influencing demand for industry products and services

Geographic Breakdown

Discover where business activity is most concentrated in an industry and the factors driving these trends to find opportunities and conduct regional benchmarking.

Analyst insights

California and New York have the most industry locations. State incentives in the form of tax credits and rebates contribute to a large concentration of TV producers located ...

In this chapter (1)

  • Business Locations

Charts

  • Share of revenue, establishment, wages and employment in each state
  • Share of population compared to establishments in each region in 2024

Tables

  • Number and share of establishments in each state in 2024
  • Number and share of revenue each state accounts for in 2024
  • Number and share of wages each state accounts for in 2024
  • Number and share of employees in each state in 2024

Detailed analysis

  • Geographic spread of the industry across North America, and trends associated with changes in the business landscape
  • Key success factors for businesses to use location to their advantage

Competitive Forces

Get data and insights on what's driving competition in an industry and the challenges industry operators and new entrants may face, with analysis built around Porter's Five Forces framework.

Analyst insights

Many production companies are vertically integrated with TV distribution. Vertical integration gives television production companies easier access to capital and can help man...

In this chapter (4)

  • Concentration
  • Barriers to Entry
  • Substitutes
  • Buyer & Supplier Analysis

Key metrics

  • Industry concentration level
  • Industry competition level and trend
  • Barriers to entry level and trend
  • Substitutes level and trend
  • Buyer power level and trend
  • Supplier power level and trend

Charts

  • Market share concentration among the top 4 suppliers from 2019-2024
  • Supply chain including upstream supplying industries and downstream buying industries, flow chart

Detailed analysis

  • Factors impacting the industry’s level of concentration, such as business distribution, new entrants, or merger and acquisition activity.
  • Key success factors for businesses to manage the competitive environment of the industry.
  • Challenges that potential industry entrants face such as legal, start-up costs, differentiation, labor/capital intensity and capital expenses.
  • Key success factors for potential entrants to overcome barriers to entry.
  • Competitive threats from potential substitutes for the industry’s own products and services.
  • Key success factors for how successful businesses can compete with substitutes.
  • Advantages that buyers have to keep favorable purchasing conditions.
  • Advantages that suppliers have to maintain favorable selling conditions.
  • Key success factors for how businesses can navigate buyer and supplier power.

Companies

Learn about the performance of the top companies in the industry.

Analyst insights

There have been a few high-profile mergers and acquisitions in recent years. Most notably, Discovery acquired Warner Bros. from AT&T to form Warner Bros. Discovery Inc. in Ap...

In this chapter

  • Market Share Concentration
  • Companies
  • Company Spotlights

Charts

  • Industry market share by company in 2020 through 2024
  • Major companies in the industry, including market share, revenue, profit and profit margin in 2024
  • Overview of Walt Disney Co's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
  • Overview of Nbcuniversal Media, Llc's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
  • Overview of Viacomcbs Inc.'s performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024

Detailed analysis

  • Description and key data for Walt Disney Co, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description and key data for Nbcuniversal Media, Llc, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description and key data for Viacomcbs Inc., and factors influencing its performance in the industry

External Environment

Understand the demographic, economic and regulatory factors that shape how businesses in an industry perform.   

Analyst insights

Streaming services have been a burgeoning source of demand. Original content is a prime draw for new subscribers, with several platforms now leading the charge in creating un...

In this chapter

  • External Drivers
  • Regulation & Policy
  • Assistance

Key metrics

  • Regulation & policy level and trend
  • Assistance level and trend

Charts

  • Regulation & Policy historical data and forecast (2014-2029) 
  • Assistance historical data and forecast (2014-2029) 

Detailed analysis

  • Demographic and macroeconomic factors influencing the industry, including Regulation & Policy and Assistance
  • Major types of regulations, regulatory bodies, industry standards or specific regulations impacting requirements for industry operators
  • Key governmental and non-governmental groups or policies that may provide some relief for industry operators.

Financial Benchmarks

View average costs for industry operators and compare financial data against an industry's financial benchmarks over time. 

Analyst insights

Profit in the TV Production industry has been extremely volatile. After plummeting to a 5-year low in 2020, they've bounced back from the cost of COVID-19, although not quite...

In this chapter

  • Cost Structure
  • Financial Ratios
  • Key Ratios

Key metrics

  • Profit margin, and how it compares to the sector-wide margin
  • Average wages, and how it compares to the sector-wide average wage
  • Largest cost component as a percentage of revenue
  • Industry average ratios for days' receivables, industry coverage and debt-to-net-worth ratio

Charts

  • Average industry operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
  • Average sector operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
  • Investment vs. share of economy

Data tables

  • Industry Multiples (2017-2022)
  • Industry Tax Structure (2017-2022)
  • Income Statement (2017-2022)
  • Balance Sheet (2017-2022)
  • Liquidity Ratios (2017-2022)
  • Coverage Ratios (2017-2022)
  • Leverage Ratios  (2017-2022)
  • Operating Ratios (2017-2022)
  • Cash Flow & Debt Service Ratios (2014-2029)
  • Revenue per Employee (2014-2029)
  • Revenue per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • Employees per Establishment (2014-2029)
  • Employees per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • Average Wage (2014-2029)
  • Wages/Revenue (2014-2029)
  • Establishments per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • IVA/Revenue (2014-2029)
  • Imports/Demand (2014-2029)
  • Exports/Revenue (2014-2029)

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in the cost component for industry operators and their impact on industry costs and profitability 

Key Statistics

Industry Data

Data Tables

Including values and annual change:

  • Revenue (2014-2029)
  • IVA (2014-2029)
  • Establishments (2014-2029)
  • Enterprises (2014-2029)
  • Employment (2014-2029)
  • Exports (2014-2029)
  • Imports (2014-2029)
  • Wages (2014-2029)

Top Questions Answered

Unlock comprehensive answers and precise data upon purchase. View purchase options.

What is the market size of the Television Production in the US industry in United States in 2024?

The market size of the Television Production in the US industry in United States is $49.5bn in 2024.

How many businesses are there in the Television Production in the US industry in 2024?

There are 11,234 businesses in the Television Production in the US industry in United States, which has grown at a CAGR of 4.1 % between 2019 and 2024.

Has the Television Production in the US industry in United States grown or declined over the past 5 years?

The market size of the Television Production in the US industry in United States has been declining at a CAGR of 1.1 % between 2019 and 2024.

What is the forecast growth of the Television Production in the US industry in United States over the next 5 years?

Over the next five years, the Television Production in the US industry in United States is expected to grow.

What are the biggest companies in the Television Production in the US market in United States?

The biggest companies operating in the Television Production market in United States are Walt Disney Co, Nbcuniversal Media, Llc and Viacomcbs Inc.

What does the Television Production in the US in United States include?

Producing TV dramas and Producing TV comedies are part of the Television Production in the US industry.

Which companies have the highest market share in the Television Production in the US in United States?

The company holding the most market share in United States is Walt Disney Co.

How competitive is the Television Production in the US industry in United States?

The level of competition is high and increasing in the Television Production in the US industry in United States.

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Methodology

How are IBISWorld reports created?

IBISWorld has been a leading provider of trusted industry research for over 50 years to the most successful companies worldwide. With offices in Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany and China, we are proud to have local teams of analysts that conduct research, data analysis and forecasting to produce data-driven industry reports.

Our analysts start with official, verified and publicly available sources of data to build the most accurate picture of each industry. Analysts then leverage their expertise and knowledge of the local markets to synthesize trends into digestible content for IBISWorld readers. Finally, each report is reviewed by one of IBISWorld’s editors, who provide quality assurance to ensure accuracy and readability.

IBISWorld relies on human-verified data and human-written analysis to compile each standard industry report. We do not use generative AI tools to write insights, although members can choose to leverage AI-based tools within the platform to generate additional analysis formats.

What data sources do IBISWorld analysts use?

Each industry report incorporates data and research from government databases, industry-specific sources, industry contacts, and our own proprietary database of statistics and analysis to provide balanced, independent and accurate insights.

Key data sources in the US include: 

  • US Census Bureau
  • US Bureau of Labor Statistics
  • US International Trade Commission

Analysts also use industry specific sources to complement catch-all sources, although their perspective may focus on a particular organization or representative body, rather than a clear overview of all industry operations. However, when balanced against other perspectives, industry-specific sources provide insights into industry trends.

These sources include:

  • Industry and trade associations
  • Industry federations or regulators
  • Major industry players annual or quarterly filings

Finally, IBISWorld’s global data scientists maintain a proprietary database of macroeconomic and demand drivers, which our analysts use to help inform industry data and trends. They also maintain a database of statistics and analysis on thousands of industries, which has been built over our more than 50-year history and offers comprehensive insights into long-term trends.

How does IBISWorld forecast its data?

IBISWorld’s analysts and data scientists use the sources above to create forecasts for our proprietary datasets and industry statistics. Depending on the dataset, they may use regression analysis, multivariate analysis, time-series analysis or exponential smoothing techniques to project future data for the industry or driver. Additionally, analysts will leverage their local knowledge of industry operating and regulatory conditions to impart their best judgment on the forecast model.

IBISWorld prides itself on being a trusted, independent source of data, with over 50 years of experience building and maintaining rich datasets and forecasting tools. We are proud to be the keystone source of industry information for thousands of companies across the world.

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