Council of Europe adopts TV series co-production convention

The Council of Europe’s Committee of Ministers today adopted a convention on the co-production of TV series.

The agreement is the first international convention dedicated specifically to TV series and establishes a modernised, flexible framework to facilitate cross-border financing and strengthen access to national funding mechanisms for co-productions.

The voluntary system is designed to enhance collaboration opportunities, broaden financing access, and support the wider circulation of culturally diverse stories across Europe.

In a statement, European Audiovisual Production Association president Anthony Muldoon said the system will allow European producers to "craft stories across borders with greater ease and flexibility, helping more original European stories reach European audiences."

A key focus of the new agreement is addressing structural imbalances faced by independent producers in negotiations with major broadcasters and global platforms. The Convention includes provisions to help producers retain a share of rights and revenues, ensuring exploitation rights cannot be licensed in perpetuity and licence durations allow producers to benefit from the residual value of their works. 

It also introduces a transparency obligation: media service providers and their subsidiaries must provide audience data and exploitation information on officially co-produced series to all independent co-producers and competent public authorities. 

The Convention will be opened for signature in early 2026, marking the beginning of a ratification phase by member states.