Former Corrie star Suranne Jones is leading the line as the UK closes in on South Korea’s position as the world’s leading exporter of scripted TV formats, according to K7 Media’s latest Tracking the Scripted Giants 2026 report.
The Jones-starring Doctor Foster is tied as most adapted UK format of the decade to date, although South Korea remains top originator globally, with 19 adaptations launched between July 2024 and December 2025 to the UK’s 17, which significantly narrows the gap on the market leader.
The shift reflects growing international demand for UK-originated formats, alongside the continued strength of South Korea’s globally influential drama sector. The findings were presented for the first time at Series Mania in Lille, where K7 Media’s Richard O’Meara and Patti Linnett led an exclusive session unveiling the report on 25 March at 16:00 CEST at the Théâtre Marie Curie.
Tracking the Scripted Giants reveals what is driving the global scripted format market today, from the most adapted formats of the 2020s so far, to the leading distributors, key buying territories, and the genres travelling most successfully across cultures.
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The 2026 report highlights a competitive and evolving global market in which success is driven by adaptable storytelling and strong, proven concepts.
Supernatural comedy Ghosts (BBC Studios) is the most adapted scripted format of the most recent period, adding four new international versions across Australia, France, Germany and Greece alongside the existing US version.
Across the decade to date (2020–2025), three very different formats are tied as the most successful globally:
- Doctor Foster (BBC Studios)
- Your Honour (Yes Studios)
- Call My Agent! (Studio TF1 / France TV Distribution)
Each has reached 10 adaptations in the 2020s, underlining the absence of a single genre formula for international success.
The report also suggested that global buying activity is becoming more concentrated. Thailand, India, Germany and the Middle East now account for 40% of all scripted format acquisitions.
Widely regarded as an industry benchmark, Tracking the Scripted Giants provides a comprehensive overview of how scripted formats travel internationally, as well as the trends shaping commissioning strategies. The latest edition points to a market that remains resilient despite wider industry pressures, with buyers continuing to prioritise proven intellectual property and adaptable narratives.
Crime and thriller formats remain dominant globally, accounting for 28% of adaptations, followed by romance, soap and telenovela at 22%. At the same time, the data highlights a shift toward more targeted commissioning, with buyers increasingly selecting formats that can be tailored to specific audiences and territories.
“South Korea remains the benchmark for global scripted formats, but the UK’s recent performance shows how quickly that balance can shift,” said Richard O’Meara, managing director at Manchester’s K7 Media “What’s particularly striking is that success is not being driven by a single genre or formula. The formats performing best are those built around strong, relatable human stories that can resonate across very different markets.”
