UK Home Entertainment Boom: Streaming Surpasses £5 Billion Milestone for the First Time!

In 2024, the UK home entertainment market hit a record £5.1 billion, thanks to a surge in consumer spending. This is the first time the sector has passed the £5 billion mark, according to the British Association for Screen Entertainment.

This market includes streaming services, digital sales, DVD and Blu-ray sales, and rentals. A significant factor in this growth has been the introduction of advertising-supported tiers, which added an impressive £400 million in value.

Netflix remains the top streaming service in the UK, reaching 17.3 million homes, while Amazon Prime Video and Disney+ follow with 13.4 million and 7.5 million homes, respectively.

This year also saw Warner Bros. Discovery leading as the top distributor in the UK for the third consecutive year, boasting a market share of 22.8%. The standout title was Wonka, featuring Timothée Chalamet, which sold 821,000 units across all platforms.

Dune: Part Two came in second with 817,000 unit sales, while Oppenheimer sold 713,000 units, claiming third place.

The overall value of the UK screen industry increased by 4.3% to reach £12.4 billion, covering various formats including streaming, cinema, and pay TV. In 2024, 62 new films available for early home viewing were released, marking a 15% rise compared to last year. This shift allows viewers to enjoy films at home soon after they hit theaters, with an average wait time of about 40 days.

Stable sales of digital transactions reached £381 million in 2024, with expectations of a 2.4% increase in 2025. Meanwhile, Blu-ray 4k sales also experienced growth, with a 17.8% increase, reaching £30.5 million. Popular re-releases included Aliens, The Terminator, The Crow, and The Lord of the Rings.

The year was also notable for the growth of FAST (Free Ad-supported Streaming TV) channels, with over 700 channels now available in the UK.

Top Film Titles in 2024:

• Wonka
• Dune: Part Two
• Oppenheimer
• Deadpool & Wolverine
• Barbie

Top Digital Titles:

• Deadpool & Wolverine
• Wonka
• Dune: Part Two
• Inside Out 2
• Oppenheimer

Top Physical Titles:

• Dune: Part Two
• Wonka
• Oppenheimer
• Deadpool & Wolverine
• Aquaman And The Lost Kingdom

Top Blu-ray Titles:

• Dune: Part Two
• Deadpool & Wolverine
• Alien: Romulus
• Oppenheimer
• Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga

Top DVD Titles:

• Wonka
• Oppenheimer
• Barbie
• Dune: Part Two
• Aquaman And The Lost Kingdom

Top Digital Rental Titles:

• Oppenheimer
• Wonka
• Dune: Part Two
• Barbie
• Anyone But You

It’s clear that the home entertainment industry is thriving, with audiences eagerly embracing new ways to enjoy films and shows from the comfort of their homes.

Source link