Asia Pacific has overtaken the US and Western Europe to become the world’s largest market for scripted streaming commissions, with Netflix and Prime Video driving a significant increase in new series orders across the region.
According to data from Ampere Analysis, APAC accounted for 36% of first-run scripted commissions from major streaming platforms in the first half of 2026. The region received 70 new scripted orders during this period, compared with 46 in the US and 44 in Western Europe.
The figures mark APAC’s highest-ever six-month share of global scripted streaming commissions and highlight the growing importance of Asian markets for Netflix, Prime Video and other major streamers.
Why Is APAC Leading Streaming Commissions?
Netflix and Prime Video are largely responsible for the increase in scripted production across APAC. The region’s growing subscriber base, combined with the international success of Asian series, has encouraged streamers to invest more heavily in locally produced content.
Recent titles such as Netflix’s Thai series My Dearest Assassin and South Korea’s The Great Flood have also demonstrated the potential for APAC productions to reach audiences beyond their domestic markets.
Ampere’s analysis covers scripted commissioning activity from Netflix, Prime Video, Apple TV+, Disney+, HBO Max and Paramount+.
Which APAC Markets Are Producing the Most New Series?
India leads APAC with 25 new scripted orders, driven in particular by Prime Video’s investment in productions across multiple Indian languages.
South Korea remains the region’s second-largest market by volume, with Netflix continuing to play a major role in local scripted production.
Other markets are also becoming increasingly important. Taiwan recorded nine new scripted series commissions during the first half of 2026, while the Philippines received seven.
Netflix quadrupled its year-on-year scripted orders in Taiwan, commissioning projects including the medical drama How to Survive Med School and the crime series Million-follower Detective. In the Philippines, Amazon announced five new series during the same period, including the romantic drama The Loyalty Game.
What Genres Are Streamers Ordering in APAC?
Crime and thriller productions accounted for around one-third of scripted commissions in the region, making the genre the strongest category during the first half of 2026.
Drama also reached a record share, representing approximately a quarter of new orders. Meanwhile, traditionally more expensive genres such as science fiction and fantasy saw a sharp decline in commissions.
The shift suggests that streamers are balancing global appeal with production costs while continuing to look for stories that can travel internationally.
Why Are Netflix and Prime Video Investing in Asian Content?
Ampere Analysis says the commissioning boom reflects different stages of streaming growth across APAC.
In established markets such as India, South Korea and Japan, streamers are commissioning local productions both to attract and retain subscribers and to develop shows with regional and international potential.
In emerging streaming markets such as Taiwan and the Philippines, new scripted productions are increasingly being used to drive subscriber acquisition.
As Asian series continue to find audiences worldwide, APAC is becoming not only a major source of streaming content but also an increasingly important battleground for global platforms.
