The sustainability of funding for original TV content in Europe is under risk as public service broadcasters battle increasing financial uncertainty.

Media analysts Analysys Mason say the production of national TV content, funded mainly by public and commercial free-to-air (FTA) TV channels, could be seriously impacted by ongoing financial vulnerability in the industry. It is believed to be the first time a direct link has been established between the effect levels of funding have on the quantity of national programming produced.

According to the research, around half of the estimated 35 billion euros spent each year on TV programming in the EU alone is devoted to original national content. The remaining 50 percent is spent on sports rights and imports of finished programmes. Any financial weakness could have a serious impact on European TV production.

FTA channels in the EU are facing revenue stagnation: there is political pressure on licence fees and funding of public broadcasters while revenue from TV advertising has stalled. Analysts say this has, and will continue to have, a negative effect on original content creation.