From Warsaw to the world, audience demand for Central and Eastern European (CEE) content is showing clear signs of acceleration, with Poland, Romania and Czechia leading the charge in global resonance.
I had the pleasure of presenting these insights during the opening session of last week’s Content Warsaw, drawing on global audience demand data from Parrot Analytics, where I help media companies unlock the value of their content through data-led strategy and insights. According to our latest figures, international demand for TV content from the CEE region has grown by +11% year-on-year, comparing figures for Q1 2024 with Q1 2025.
Poland continues to stand out as the region’s most powerful content exporter. Streaming platforms are fuelling this growth, with titles like The Eastern Gate and A Decent Man on Max, as well as Netflix successes like Just One Look and Hounds Hill, attracting significant international attention. Just One Look, adapted from a Harlan Coben novel [by ATM Grupa], is a prime example of how globally recognised IP can help local productions scale worldwide.
Czechia is also gaining ground. Long respected for its production capabilities, the country is now being recognised for its storytelling strength. Recent standouts include [All3Media International’s] unscripted hit The Traitors, which benefitted from global format familiarity, and original dramas like Studna [Yoyo] and Lovec [Czech Television and TV JOJ], which have resonated with both niche and mainstream audiences across borders.
Neighbouring markets are not far behind. In Hungary, Rise of the Raven – a coproduction between TV2 and ORF – has seen higher demand recently in Germany than in Austria (where coproduction partner ORF in based) while also building viewership in France. It’s a great case study in how regional relevance can evolve into global recognition when story and execution align.
Our audience demographic data also reveals important nuances. Romanian content, for example, tends to attract younger, more digitally native viewers, while Hungarian content skews older – highlighting a broad spectrum of opportunity across age groups.
This surge in demand reflects a broader trend we’ve observed at Parrot Analytics: as global streamers ramp up their localisation strategies, regional titles are receiving more prominent international placement. This increased visibility drives demand, creating a virtuous cycle for producers and distributors in the region.
Genre-level analysis also reveals significant white space. While crime and action thrillers remain globally popular and well-supplied, genres like sci-fi, westerns and war dramas are in high demand yet underrepresented in CEE output, offering a clear opportunity for bold new projects to break through.
In short, the world is watching – and increasingly, it’s watching CEE content.
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