Children reduce churn for streaming services - report

As a result, streamers are scooping up kids’ titles to appease the influential kids audience in a bid to retain subscribers and to reduce churn.

However, children and family titles have been among the most affected by the global slowdown in commissioning experienced between 2022 and 2023. The number of children and family TV titles announced during that time fell by 15% globally.

VoD original children’s TV titles decreased by 18% between 2022 and 2023, but well-funded public broadcasters have provided more consistent opportunities for the creation of children’s content, especially in Western Europe.

Given the reduction in original children’s content in the market, Ampere concluded that those who can fund their own new children’s titles will have an advantage in a busy acquisition market.

Ampere said that children’s content based on existing ideas has also proven to be more robust during the global slowdown. Children’s book adaptations fell by just 9% between 2022 and 2023 versus a 15% decline in all global children’s TV content over the same period. Half of all children’s titles announced in the first half of 2024 were renewals.

Olivia Deane, Research Manager at Ampere Analysis said: “A global decline in commissioning caused by slowed growth in the streaming market poses a range of challenges to children’s content. Children & Family titles were the third most affected by this slowdown between 2022 and 2023. They were behind only the more expensive genres of Drama and Crime & Thriller. Those who can find independent funding, especially for titles based on existing intellectual property with reliable audience appeal, will have an advantage in a busy acquisitions market.”