ARCOM report reveals split on availability of films on VOD

Some 43% of films released in cinemas in France between 1950 and 2021 are now available via legitimate video-on-demand services, while 42% are available on illegal services, of which 11% are exclusively available on such services, according to a study by French media regulator ARCOM.

According to ARCOM’s report, more recent films are more likely to be available on legitimate services, with 79% of films released since 2010 and 84% of those released in 2020 and 2021 being available on such services.

However, fewer than a quarter of films that are more than 30 years old are available on legitimate VOD services.

The vast majority of films available legitimately are available on transactional VOD services, while only 43% are available via SVOD services.

Some 57% of films available legally are exclusive to particular VOD service, against only 5% that are exclusive to an SVOD offering.

Among films released between 1950 and 2021 that are available via legitimate services, 45% of French productions or co-productions, six percentage points more than the proportion of French productions and co-productions as a percentage of the totality of films released theatrically over that period.

American movies are also over-represented in the total, with American films representing 32% of those available legally, while only 27% of films released theatrically over the relevant period were American.

Pay VOD films are generally available four months after the theatrical release of the film in France, while films are available on SVOD services that have signed approved agreements committing to an equal level of support for production six months after their release.

Films are available on free VOD services 36 months after their release.