In their infancies, streaming services catered to mostly English-speaking audiences, so naturally they prioritized English-language content. However, as American streamers expand to more territories around the world, they will have to diversify their programming.
The recent success of non-English series, such as Spain’s “Money Heist,” France’s “Lupin” and South Korea’s “Squid Game,” in English-speaking markets now has streamers widening their sights in search of the next global sensations.
This trend was certainly felt at the Hong Kong International Film & TV Market (FilMart) last year. According to the Hong Kong Trade Development Council, FilMart Online 2021 saw an increase in buyers from over-the-top (OTT) platforms and broadcasters, including Korea’s Watcha, the Philippines’ Cignal TV, U.K.’s Mubi and Taiwan’s Catchplay.
As one of the largest…
