Global streaming services are increasingly commissioning scripted romance dramas instead of reality dating shows, with more than four out of five new romance titles now scripted, according to new research from Ampere Analysis.
The analyst says 83% of first-run romance commissions in the first half of 2026 were scripted, compared with an almost even split between scripted and reality romance programming in late 2022.
The shift is being driven by younger audiences, with romance remaining one of the most popular genres among 18 to 24-year-olds. Ampere found that 49% of people in that age group enjoy romance content, seven percentage points above the global average, while interest has remained unchanged since 2020 even as other major genres, including comedy, action and crime, have declined.
Book adaptations are playing an increasingly important role in the trend. More than 40% of scripted romance commissions are now based on novels, with the number of first-run literary adaptations rising by 73% over the past two years.
Ampere says online communities such as BookTok are helping drive demand, with younger audiences significantly more likely than older viewers to discover programmes through social media.
Amazon and Netflix are leading the commissioning trend, accounting for all of the major US scripted romance commissions tracked during the first half of 2026.
Mariana Enriquez Denton Bustinza, Senior Analyst at Ampere Analysis, said the success of literary adaptations such as Bridgerton, Heated Rivalry and Off Campus has encouraged streamers to move away from reality dating formats towards higher-budget scripted dramas with established fan bases.
She added that tapping into online reading communities gives streaming platforms a better chance of building long-term audience engagement around new series.
Source: broadbandtvnews.com