3rd Annual Report on the Audiovisual Sector in Spain 2025

The Spain Audiovisual Hub publishes the third Annual Report on the Audiovisual Sector in Spain 2025, following those released in 2024 and 2023.

It provides an in-depth analysis of the Spanish audiovisual industry (film, television, OTT video, advertising, video games, esports, animation, the metaverse, extended reality, and sustainability) in a context of strong transformation and economic growth between 2021 and 2024, driven by the Spain Audiovisual Hub of Europe Plan and European funds.

Each subsector is examined in detail, highlighting both the post-pandemic recovery and the challenges of financing, digitalization, and internationalization. The report emphasizes the expansion of film, animation, and international co-productions; the consolidation of television fiction; the leadership of the OTT market; and the advancement of the video game, esports, and XR industries, as well as the growing importance of sustainability and gender equality across the entire ecosystem.

The document combines an original survey with official data, sector reports, white papers, and international comparative analyses, with the aim of identifying trends, anticipating future scenarios, and guiding industry strategies.

In conclusion, this third report reflects not only the strength and modernization of the Spanish audiovisual industry, but also its role as an economic and cultural engine with international reach, supported by public policies, sector collaboration, and a growing commitment to innovation, diversity, and sustainability.

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FILM

• Spanish cinema has experienced a solid recovery following the pandemic.

• Between 2021 and 2024, box office revenues nearly doubled, rising from €251.9 million in 2021 to €484.6 million in 2024.

• National production also expanded, with 289 feature films and short films produced in 2024 and a rebound in international co-productions.

• Employment grew by 23% up to 2023.

• Public investment has supported the sector.

• Cinema attendance in Spain has already recovered to 75%, placing the country fifth in Europe in terms of box office revenues, with takings of €509 million in 2024.

• In terms of audience numbers, Spain ranks as the fourth country with the highest cinema attendance, with 73 million viewers in 2024, behind France, the United Kingdom, and Germany, which recorded 181.3 million, 126.5 million, and 80.9 million viewers respectively.

• In 2020, 222 feature films (fully Spanish and co-productions) and 419 short films were produced. The government’s goal was to increase production by 30% by 2025, a target Spain has exceeded by a wide margin: 376 feature films were produced in 2024, an increase of 69.37% compared to 2020. This figure represents the highest volume in the 2013–2024 period and confirms the consolidation of production activity after the slowdown experienced in 2020.

• As for short films, 652 were produced in Spain in 2024, 55.6% more than in 2020.

• In 2023, Spain ranked as the second European country in film production with 337 titles, behind Italy (356) and ahead of France (268). This development reinforces the trend observed since 2021, when Spain surpassed France for the first time and maintained that lead in subsequent years.

• Between 2021 and 2023, the availability of Spanish productions on major streaming platforms increased by 22%.

ANIMATION

• The animation and visual effects sector consolidated its recovery.

• Turnover exceeded €600 million in 2023.

• Feature film production doubled and employment reached 5,806 professionals, with a high concentration in Madrid and Catalonia.

• Despite an adjustment in 2023, the sector retains strong potential thanks to digitalization and support from the ICAA, whose budget nearly doubled over three years.

TELEVISION

• Since 2021, following the launch of the Spain Audiovisual Hub of Europe Plan, sector revenues have grown from €1.36 billion in 2021 to €1.47 billion in 2023, driven mainly by advertising (58% of the total) and pay television (40%).

• ARPU rose from a post-pandemic low of €80 to €100 in 2023 and is expected to remain stable in the coming years.

• The percentage of households with internet-connected Smart TVs increased from 53.1% in 2021 to 64.1% in 2023, reflecting the growing penetration of connected television in Spain.

• Overall, between 2021 and 2024, the Spanish audiovisual sector demonstrated a remarkable capacity for modernization and adaptation to technological and economic challenges, positioning itself strongly in the international market and opening up new opportunities for future development.

OTT VIDEO

• The OTT sector recorded the strongest growth within the Spanish audiovisual industry, with revenues tripling to a projected €3.436 billion in 2024.

• SVOD leads revenue generation, while digital advertising is expanding income sources.

• Spanish content on international platforms exceeded €1.292 billion.

• The user base stabilized at around 40 million, indicating a mature and competitive market.

ADVERTISING

• The advertising sector in Spain exceeded €12.6 billion in 2023.

• The momentum of digital media has transformed brand and agency strategies, with sustained growth in investment in online platforms and innovative formats.

• The sector maintains a solid base of more than 45,000 companies, reflecting its resilience and adaptability.

• Employment peaked at 130,000 people in 2023, with notable growth in female participation, pointing to a shift toward greater diversity.

• Advanced segmentation, real-time audience measurement, and integration with audiovisual content are redefining advertising as a key financing engine for the audiovisual sector.

VIDEO GAMES

• The video game sector in Spain has shown sustained growth since 2021 in terms of revenue, number of players, studios, and employees.

• Between 2022 and 2023, revenues grew by 16.3% annually, while growth in 2024 was more moderate (3%), reflecting industry stability amid a decline in physical sales, which still represent a significant share of the total.

• Online sales stood out, with growth close to 20%.

• In 2024, the number of players increased by more than 10%, surpassing 22 million people, indicating stronger growth in the player base than in revenues.

• Additionally, 2024 marked a milestone as the first year in which the number of female players exceeded that of male players.

• Although revenue and employment growth was more moderate, the expansion of the gaming community reflects a strengthening of the sector from the audience and market potential perspective.

• Esports also continued a positive trend, reaching revenues of €44 million in 2024, 10% more than in 2023.

• Sponsorships account for more than two-thirds of total revenues, consolidating their position as the main income source, followed by broadcasting rights. This highlights the consolidation of esports as a strategic component within the video game industry.

METAVERSE AND EXTENDED REALITY

• The XR and VR sector in Spain has experienced notable growth in recent years, especially in AR hardware, which increased from €8.7 million to €89.2 million over four years, and in VR hardware, which grew by 113%. However, within VR, software has been the fastest-growing category.

• In 2024, a relative increase in the share of VR hardware within total revenues can be observed, reflecting a shift in market structure.
  For 2024, penetration in Spain is expected to reach 5.7%, more than double the level of 2021. According to the Inmersiva XR public consultation, 44% of respondents have limited experience with these devices, only 10% use them regularly, and 24% own them.

• This growth potential is accompanied by the consolidation of the business ecosystem in Spain, with historic peaks in XR company creation in 2017 and 2020, as well as an increase in public aid which, between 2023 and 2024, exceeded 40 grants totaling €2.6 million.

• The metaverse market in Spain also shows significant expansion, estimated at more than €876 million in 2024, representing growth of over 60% since 2022.
  Within this market, the sectors with the greatest weight are e-commerce and gaming, at 30.2% and 32.1% respectively, together accounting for nearly two-thirds of the total. This indicates that the evolution and growth of these segments are decisive for the overall development of the metaverse in Spain.

SUSTAINABILITY

• Sustainability has become a priority for the audiovisual industry in Spain and Europe, driven by the need to reduce environmental impact.

• Tools and certifications such as EcoMuvi, Green Film, Albert, and carbon calculators (Eureca, KlimAktiv) have been developed, and leading companies such as Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and Mediapro have implemented climate commitments and green protocols. At the same time, public bodies such as RTVE and the ICAA have incorporated sustainability criteria into productions and funding schemes.

Source: Spain Audiovisual Hub.