Production volume generated by internationally traded formats has risen substantially from the years 2006 to 2008, to €9.3 billion, according to TV Formats to the World, the latest report from The Format Recognition and Protection Association (FRAPA).

The report, compiled in association with the global TV research agency The WIT and TV Sisters, was unveiled at a press conference during MIPCOM on Tuesday. Fourteen countries from around the globe were surveyed for the information gleaned for the report, including: Argentina, Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, The Netherlands, Spain, UK, USA and three Nordic countries, Denmark, Norway and Sweden.

The production volume numbers mark a 45 per cent increase from those in the last report, which analyzed the format trade from the years 2002 to 2004. As for which countries are ruling the roost when it comes to exporting formats, the UK is still on top of the heap, with the U.S. following directly behind. The Netherlands and Argentina are third and fourth, with Germany, Spain and Italy showing increases and Improvements in their format businesses. While Japan is still a relatively closed market in terms of importing formats into the country, it is showing a growing interest in format production for export, according to FRAPA.

According to FRAPA board member and FOX Reality president David Lyle, the report is a ‘snapshot of the world before the bottom fell out’ due to the global economic turbulence felt this year. It also serves as a thorough synopsis of the growing global format business, spotlighting the increasing relevance of internationally traded formats in TV programming around the world.

The FRAPA Awards will be held this evening (Wednesday) in Cannes. For more info on the report, go to www.frapa.org.