The six biggest entertainment companies continue to spend more on content -- 9% more to a combined $126 billion this year, according to Ampere Analysis -- amid cost-cutting concerns over TV and movie content. 

In 2024, the total represents 51% of all global content entertainment spend, according to estimates from the media analyst -- up from 48% a year ago.

A major part of the growth -- 32% ($40 billion) -- comes via spending on companies' respective subscription streaming services (including Disney+, Peacock, Paramount+ and Max).

Overall, Walt Disney has the top position at $35.8 billion, which includes original and acquired content -- up from $28.3 billion the previous year.

Comcast Corp. (NBC Universal) is next at $24.5 billion. Farther down the list are Google with $17.6 billion, followed by Warner Bros. Discovery at $16.8 billion, Netflix at $16.0 billion, and Paramount Global at $15.1 billion.

Forty-five percent of the estimated $126 billion -- or $56 billion -- is estimated to have gone toward original produced content, with the remainder going to acquired content.

Netflix is the top overall global spender for streaming content -- up from $14.5 billion in 2023 and $10.9 billion since 2020.

Google’s main source of spending comes via YouTube, where it has revenue-sharing deals with content creators.

Ampere Analysis notes NBCUniversal’s Peacock and Paramount’s Paramount+ content spend estimates are only for originally produced entertainment and sports content and does not factor in existing library programming that is moved around to different company platforms. 

The increase in spending occurred despite last year’s actors' and writers' strikes. That said, Peter Ingram, research manager at Ampere Analysis, noted:  “We can expect that the content landscape will see low level growth in 2024 as production schedules recover... Looking forward, while these top six providers will continue to account for the majority of spend, overall growth will plateau as companies look to refocus their output.”