Study: NRW is the Leader in the TV Production Industry - Germany's media boom shifts as NRW dominates film and TV production in 2024
Germany's film and TV industry is seeing major shifts in funding and production trends. New rules will soon require broadcasters and streaming platforms like Netflix, Amazon Prime, and Disney+ to invest more in European films. Meanwhile, North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW) has solidified its position as the country's leading media hub, accounting for nearly half of all production activity in 2024.
In 2024, German film and TV producers created around 751,000 minutes of programming—a slight decline of 3 percent compared to 2022. Despite this dip, demand for on-demand content, including films and series for streaming services, grew significantly during the same period.
NRW dominated the sector, responsible for 44 percent of all production minutes in Germany. This marks a two percentage point increase from two years earlier, with Bayern following at 19 percent and Berlin at 13 percent. The region's strength comes from its concentration of major production companies, including ITV Studios Germany, Just Friends Productions, Filmpool, Warner Bros.' German subsidiary, and Ufa Show & Factual.
Cologne, in particular, remains a key media centre. Broadcaster RTL, which commissions many productions, has further boosted the city's reputation. NRW hosts 158 production companies, most of them based in or around Cologne. German broadcasters invested roughly €2.9 billion in film and TV in 2024, with €1.2 billion of that going to projects in NRW alone.
Media Minister Nathanael Liminski emphasised the region's importance, stating that 'North Rhine-Westphalia is Germany's top media hub—and we intend to keep it that way.' The federal government has also allocated an extra €120 million for film funding in the upcoming budget, reinforcing support for the industry.
The new funding requirements for streaming platforms and broadcasters will channel more investment into European productions. With NRW maintaining its lead in production volume and financial backing, the region's role in Germany's media landscape looks set to grow. The additional €120 million in federal funding will provide further support for filmmakers across the country.
