Catalan audiovisual sector grows 14% in one year: €8.6 billion in revenue, 3% of GDP, and 41,000 professionals

Integrated Systems Europe (ISE), a key event in the audiovisual sector, returned to Barcelona for the fifth time last month, continuing its growth in terms of participating companies and international significance. Catalonia being chosen to host this benchmark event has given a major boost to this industry, which has taken advantage of this driving force. In this regard, some 85 Catalan companies took part in the event, 8% more than last year.

Catalonia is currently home to 4,161 audiovisual companies, which is 14% more than last year. The combined turnover of these companies exceeds €8.6 billion, accounting for 3% of Catalonia’s GDP. The audiovisual industry also employs around 42,000 people.

It is worth noting that the companies that existed before hosting the congress have seen a 30% increase in turnover, partly thanks to ISE. All this data comes from the study El sector audiovisual a Catalunya compiled by ACCIÓ in collaboration with the Catalan Audiovisual Cluster.

The audiovisual sector encompasses various areas, from content creation and production to distribution and screening, and includes a wide range of activities and industries related to entertainment, communication and technology. Start-ups have gained significant prominence in this ecosystem. Specifically, there are 335 audiovisual start-ups in Catalonia, more than twice as many as there were five years ago.

On an international scale, the study highlights that the global audiovisual industry generated revenue exceeding €3 trillion in 2024. The United States is the leading global market, with more than a third of all global spending. However, the report also points to the rise of Asian countries as future leaders of the industry. It points to Indonesia, China and India as the countries best positioned to become new global audiovisual powerhouses.