UK Media and Entertainment Market

UK Media and Entertainment Market Overview:

The UK media and entertainment market size reached USD 128.04 Billion in 2023. Looking forward, IMARC Group expects the market to reach USD 285.05 Billion by 2032, exhibiting a growth rate (CAGR) of 8.50% during 2024-2032. The growing demand for services that provide uninterrupted access to a vast array of content, rising popularity of podcasts, and increasing preferences for live streaming and online events are some of the factors impelling the market growth.

UK Media and Entertainment Market Trends:

Increasing Demand for Subscription-Based Services

Individuals in the UK are preferring services that provide uninterrupted access to a vast array of content across various media forms, including video, music, and digital publications. Subscription-based models provide viewers with an ad-free experience, enhancing user satisfaction. Aside from streaming platforms, subscriptions are also benefiting the gaming industry by providing users with access to large game libraries and regular updates and new releases. The consistent income produced by these models enables platforms to increase their investments in creating original content, enhancing the platform, and improving user experience. Companies are striving to keep subscribers interested with unique offerings and top-notch service, thereby strengthening the market growth. In 2024, Amazon's podcast network Wondery introduced Wondery+ in the UK, a subscription service with exclusive content, no ads, and early episode access. The subscription, priced at £5.99 per month or £44.99 per year, offers a variety of UK original podcasts in addition to popular global hits from Wondery. This debut signifies Amazon's dedication to growing podcast-driven storytelling in the UK.

Rise of Live Streaming and Virtual Events

Live streaming and online events are becoming popular in the entertainment industry of the UK. Live concerts and sports broadcasts, as well as virtual conferences, offer viewers interactive experiences in real-time that can be enjoyed from the comfort of their own homes. Entertainment companies are frequently blending in-person and online elements in hybrid models. This shift is creating new opportunities for audiences to engage with content in flexible ways. Moreover, media companies are exploring various ways to make money through ticket sales, sponsorships, and virtual merchandise, making live streaming and virtual events a vital part of the entertainment landscape. In 2023, ONE Championship revealed a unique collaboration with Sky Sports to air live martial arts competitions in the UK and Ireland. The partnership started with the live broadcast of ONE Fight Night 18: Superlek vs. Mahmoudi on January 13, 2024. This collaboration was a major achievement for both groups, broadening ONE Championship's worldwide presence and including martial arts in Sky Sports' varied sports lineup.

Growing Popularity of Podcasts

Podcasting is becoming popular in the UK media landscape, drawing in listeners from diverse demographics. Podcasts appeal to a wide range of interests by providing accessible, on-demand content for entertainment, education, or niche topics. In addition, podcast advertising is increasingly seen as a profitable source of income, as brands understand the unique and close relationship podcasts can establish with their audience. This increasing trend is motivating more content creators and media companies to allocate resources towards high-quality podcast production. This growing trend is encouraging media companies to invest in high-quality podcast production, broadening the industry offerings. In 2024, Colgate initiated its inaugural podcast advertising campaign in the UK with The Diary of a CEO hosted by Steven Bartlett. The focus of the six-month initiative is to advertise Colgate Total toothpaste by utilizing personal recommendations and sponsored segments within podcasts, specifically appealing to individuals concerned about their health. This partnership is a key component of Colgate's plan to broaden its user base and showcase the advantages of their newest dental products.

UK Media and Entertainment Market News:

• November 2023: Sony Pictures Entertainment collaborated with the UK's Guardian Media Group to transform The Guardian's reporting into movies and TV shows. The partnership expanded storytelling possibilities across multiple media types, showcasing a significant blend of journalism with entertainment.
• July 2024: Tubi, an ad-supported streaming service with over 20,000 films and TV shows, was introduced in the UK by Fox Corporation. Tubi is striving to rival platforms such as Netflix, Disney+, and BBC iPlayer by offering free content from Disney, Lionsgate, and NBCUniversal.

UK Media and Entertainment Market Segmentation:

IMARC Group provides an analysis of the key trends in each segment of the market, along with forecasts at the country level for 2024-2032. Our report has categorized the market based on type.

Type Insights:

• Print Media
  • Newspaper
  • Magazines
  • Billboard
  • Banner, Leaflets and Flyers
  • Others
• Digital Media
  • Television
  • Music and Radio
  • Electronic Signage
  • Mobile Advertising
  • Podcasts
  • Others
• Streaming Media
  • OTT Streaming
  • Live Streaming
     

The report has provided a detailed breakup and analysis of the market based on the type. This includes print media (newspaper, magazines, billboard, banner, leaflets and flyers, others), digital media (television, music and radio, electronic signage, mobile advertising, podcasts, others) and streaming media (OTT streaming, live streaming).

Regional Insights:

• London
• South East
• North West
• East of England
• South West
• Scotland
• West Midlands
• Yorkshire and The Humber
• East Midlands
• Others
   

The report has also provided a comprehensive analysis of all the major regional markets, which include London, South East, North West, East of England, South West, Scotland, West Midlands, Yorkshire and The Humber, East Midlands, and Others.

Competitive Landscape:

The market research report has also provided a comprehensive analysis of the competitive landscape in the market. Competitive analysis such as market structure, key player positioning, top winning strategies, competitive dashboard, and company evaluation quadrant has been covered in the report. Also, detailed profiles of all major companies have been provided.

UK Media and Entertainment Market Report Coverage:

Key Questions Answered in This Report:

• How has the UK media and entertainment market performed so far and how will it perform in the coming years?
• What has been the impact of COVID-19 on the UK media and entertainment market?
• What is the breakup of the UK media and entertainment market on the basis of type?
• What are the various stages in the value chain of the UK media and entertainment market? 
• What are the key driving factors and challenges in the UK media and entertainment?
• What is the structure of the UK media and entertainment market and who are the key players?
• What is the degree of competition in the UK media and entertainment market?

Key Benefits for Stakeholders:

• IMARC’s industry report offers a comprehensive quantitative analysis of various market segments, historical and current market trends, market forecasts, and dynamics of the UK media and entertainment market from 2018-2032.
• The research report provides the latest information on the market drivers, challenges, and opportunities in the UK media and entertainment market.
• Porter's five forces analysis assist stakeholders in assessing the impact of new entrants, competitive rivalry, supplier power, buyer power, and the threat of substitution. It helps stakeholders to analyze the level of competition within the UK media and entertainment industry and its attractiveness.
• Competitive landscape allows stakeholders to understand their competitive environment and provides an insight into the current positions of key players in the market.