Breaking boundaries: Smallness and the dynamics of European audiovisual industries in the age of streaming

Abstract

Much of the foundational work on small-nation screen industries in Europe was developed when linear broadcasting was the norm. Digital distribution and subscription video-on-demand business models have since reshaped sector dynamics. This study examines whether existing frameworks still capture the dynamics shaping audiovisual sectors in small nations. The findings show that the small-market perspective remains a useful analytical framework in a multiplatform environment as many of the established patterns of smallness persist in the streaming age. However, streaming also reshapes traditional definitions of small-nation broadcasting and screen sectors and reveals important qualitative differences among European small markets, opening up new opportunities to overcome some of the constraints of smallness.