European Audiovisual Observatory

What European Audiovisual Observatory does

The European Audiovisual Observatory is a public-service intergovernmental organisation established in 1992 as an enlarged Partial Agreement of the Council of Europe, headquartered in Strasbourg, France. It collects, curates, and disseminates market and legal information on the European film, television, broadcasting, video, and on-demand audiovisual industries across 41 member states plus the European Union, with reporting coverage extending to 43 countries. Its core technology consists of seven proprietary databases — LUMIERE (cinema admissions since 1996), MERLIN/IRIS Merlin (audiovisual legal information since 1995), MAVISE (audiovisual media services and video-sharing platforms), AVMSDatabase (national transpositions of the Audiovisual Media Services Directive), LUMIERE VOD (European works on VOD services), OPUS (promotion of European and independent works), and VERBO (ECtHR case law on media freedom) — supplemented by an information network of more than 1,000 contacts across Europe and an annual output of over 30 publications in English, French, and German.

The Observatory's business model is hybrid and overwhelmingly public-sector funded. Its core revenue consists of direct contributions from its 41 member states plus the European Commission (DG CONNECT), channelled through the Council of Europe framework. Secondary revenue comes from sales of print and electronic publications, subscription access to the Yearbook Online Service, and ad hoc service contracts to build databases or conduct research on behalf of the European Commission and other public bodies. The go-to-market motion is direct-to-consumer in a public-service sense: nearly all information is freely available via the website and electronic newsletters, while a small subset of publications and the Yearbook Online Service are monetised through paid access.

Its customers span four primary segments: media professionals and industry stakeholders (film makers, distributors, cinema owners, broadcasters, ISPs, journalists) who use the data operationally; policymakers and regulators (government ministries, national regulatory authorities, EU institutions) who rely on the comparative cross-country analysis for legislative and policy work; legal professionals (lawyers and in-house counsel) who use the legal databases; and academics and researchers who rely on the data for media and cultural-industries research. The Observatory also convenes an Advisory Committee of 39 professional organisations representing the audiovisual value chain, hosts the secretariats of EPRA and EFARN, and partners with European Commission services and legal-research institutes such as EMR and IViR.

Name

European Audiovisual Observatory

Legal name

European Audiovisual Observatory

Website

https://obs.coe.int

Company type

Private

Founded year

1992

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The European Audiovisual Observatory is a Council of Europe Partial Agreement, headquartered in Strasbourg, that maintains seven proprietary databases and publishes market and legal information on film, television, VOD, and audiovisual regulation across 41 member states plus the European Union.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Audiovisual Market and Legal Intelligence

NAICS

Information (51), Web Search Portals, Libraries, Archives, and Other Information Services (519), Broadcasting and Content Providers (516)

SIC

Miscellaneous Publishing (2741), Periodicals: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2721)

akta.pro primary industry

Government, Public Policy & Regulatory Reference (Public Administration, Regulatory Guidance) (EDAGAGAK)

akta.pro secondary industry

Government & Public Policy Publishing (Regulations, Gazettes, Legislative Tracking) (MPAJACAI)

Keywords

• Audiovisual market intelligence
• Media legal information
• Film industry data
• Broadcasting market analysis
• On-demand audiovisual databases

Headquarters

HQ city

Strasbourg

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership contributions: Funded by direct contributions from member states and the European Union, represented by the European Commission. Each of the 41 member states plus the EU contributes to the Observatory's budget.
2. Sales of publications and services: Partly financed through revenues from the sale of products and services. Some publications are available as paying publications both in print and electronic versions.
3. Service contracts and consultancy: On an ad hoc basis, the Observatory takes on service contracts to provide consultancy or research services, such as creating databases for the European Commission.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The European Audiovisual Observatory collects, analyses and disseminates market and legal information on the European audiovisual industry (film, television, video, on-demand services and radio). It operates seven proprietary online databases (LUMIERE, MERLIN/IRIS Merlin, MAVISE, AVMSDatabase, LUMIERE VOD, OPUS and VERBO) and publishes over 30 reports per year, including the subscription-based Yearbook Online Service covering more than 100 indicators across 43 European countries.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• LUMIERE Database Database providing systematic compilation of annual admissions data for films released in European cinemas since 1996, used by film professionals, distributors and researchers.
• MERLIN (IRIS Merlin) Database Legal database covering all audiovisual media, key areas, key players and legal developments since 1995, with thousands of descriptive articles referencing laws, decrees and court cases.
• MAVISE Database Database on audiovisual media services, video sharing platforms and their jurisdiction in Europe, developed in collaboration with the European Platform of Regulatory Authorities (EPRA).
• AVMSDatabase Interactive database enabling searches across national transpositions of the Audiovisual Media Services Directive (AVMSD) in the 27 EU member states.
• Yearbook Online Service Subscription-based online service providing data on television, film, video and on-demand audiovisual services covering over 100 indicators with 10-year time series for 43 European countries.
• LUMIERE VOD Database Database of European works (film and TV seasons) available on pay-video and free video on-demand services (transactional, subscription and free VOD) in the EU and Europe.
• OPUS Database Database providing a comprehensive overview of how EU member states and other European countries have transposed key articles of the AVMSD on the promotion of European and independent works.
• VERBO Database Database on the case law of the European Court of Human Rights on Freedom of Expression, the Media and Journalists, providing searchable access to ECtHR jurisprudence on media freedom.
• IRIS Newsletter Monthly newsletter reporting on the most important legal developments for the audiovisual industry in 41 European jurisdictions, distributed to legal professionals, regulators and industry stakeholders.
• Consultancy and Research Services Ad hoc consultancy and research services offered to clients such as the European Commission, including bespoke database creation and analytical studies on audiovisual markets and regulation.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 30 publications per year in three languages covering European audiovisual markets and legal developments
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature8 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• International Union of Cinemas (UNIC)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 September 2024Laura Houlgatte, CEO of UNIC, was elected Chair of the Observatory's Advisory Committee during their meeting on 20th September 2024. Her term of office starts on 1st January 2025. UNIC represents international cinema interests.
• European Platform of Regulatory Authorities (EPRA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Observatory houses the secretariat of EPRA within its headquarters, enabling lively information exchange about broadcasting regulation in Europe. EPRA network supplies key data for the MAVISE database.
• European Commission - DG CONNECTcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe European Union is a member of the Observatory represented by the European Commission. The Commission co-finances studies and provides funding through Creative Europe MEDIA programme. The Observatory created databases (MAVISE, LUMIERE VOD, AVMSDatabase) for the Commission.
• Eurimages - Council of EuropeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerParticipates in Advisory Committee deliberations as an observer. Eurimages is the European Support Fund for co-productions.
• European Film Agency Directors (EFAD)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Observatory hosts the EFARN network secretariat - the Heads of Research and Statistics from national and European film agencies working within EFAD.
• 39 Professional organisations (Advisory Committee)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrganisations including ACE, ACT, AEPO-ARTIS, CEPI, CICAE, CINE-REGIO, CIRCOM, CNC, COPEAM, EAVI, ECREA, EFAD, EGTA, EPC, ERA, EURALVA, Eurocinema, EUROISPA, Europa Distribution, Europa International, European VOD Coalition, FERA, FIA, FIAD, FIAPF, FSE, IAMCR, IFJ, IVF, OSCE, SAA, EBU, UNIC, UNI-Europa, WIPO represent various audiovisual sectors in the Advisory Committee.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves16 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Omdia: Global research and data analytics firm covering media, entertainment and broadcasting markets. Comparable to the Observatory in producing deep market intelligence on TV, video, streaming and audiovisual services, but with a global commercial mandate rather than European public-service focus.
• Mediamétrie: French audience measurement and media intelligence company covering TV, radio, cinema and digital. Peer to the Observatory's MAVISE and LUMIERE-style tracking of audiovisual services and cinema attendance, with comparable audience and market data offerings in a specific European market.
• Ampere Analysis: Commercial market intelligence firm focused on media, telecoms and audiovisual sectors across global markets. Direct peer to the Observatory's market information function — both produce analytical reports and datasets on film, TV, streaming and broadcasting, though Ampere operates commercially and globally rather than as a public service.

Broad incumbents

• Statista: Global data and statistics portal aggregating market, industry and country-level data. Comparable to the Observatory in curating and distributing audiovisual industry data via a paid portal, though Statista operates commercially with a far broader subject-matter coverage than the Observatory's focused audiovisual mandate.
• European Broadcasting Union (EBU): World's largest alliance of public service media organizations. Comparable in pan-European scope and public-service mandate, with overlapping membership base (public broadcasters) and parallel interest in regulatory data, though EBU focuses on operational broadcasting services rather than market information publishing.
• Kantar Media: Global media measurement and audience analytics provider. Overlaps with the Observatory's broadcast and audiovisual market intelligence but operates as part of a much broader commercial portfolio spanning advertising effectiveness, consumer insights, and brand tracking worldwide.

Regional players

• British Film Institute (BFI): UK national body for film and the moving image, producing market data, audience research and statistical publications on UK cinema, TV and video. A national analogue of the Observatory's role in the UK, with similar film-data publishing mission but no pan-European scope.
• Centre national du cinéma et de l'image animée (CNC): French national film and audiovisual regulatory and funding body that publishes detailed market statistics on French cinema, TV and VOD. Functions as a national-level counterpart to the Observatory's pan-European work, with comparable policy-data publishing role but confined to France.
• Filmförderungsanstalt (FFA): German national film board providing market data, audience research and statistical reporting on German cinema and audiovisual sector. Comparable to the Observatory at the national level, supplying the type of film-market data that feeds into pan-European aggregation.

Others

• European Audiovisual Observatory (self-reference excluded): European Commission's Audiovisual and Media Policies unit (DG CONNECT) and the European Regulators Group for Audiovisual Media Services (ERGA) operate adjacent roles — DG CONNECT sets the AVMSD that the Observatory tracks, and ERGA coordinates national regulators that contribute to MAVISE. Not direct peers but thematically and institutionally adjacent, supplying both input data and policy demand for the Observatory's products.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCaVDu4T2LtLJj8oZ6Jk3xPw/videos
• Facebookfacebook.com/EuropeanAudiovisualObservatory
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/european-audiovisual-observatory
• Instagraminstagram.com/europeanaudiovisualobservatory
• Xx.com/EuAvObservatory

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about European Audiovisual Observatory