In 2006, the Realscreen team unveiled the first edition of its Global 100 listing of the top international production companies working in non-fiction and unscripted television and film. At the time, it was an extremely ambitious undertaking – spanning the globe to find the leading purveyors of factual production, and soliciting industry input to ensure the list represented the myriad genres under the non-fiction umbrella.

Now, in 2026, the aim of the Global 100 – to provide a snapshot of the most creative, commercially significant and forward-thinking production shops, as proven via their programming, business models and industry impact – remains intact even after two decades. And it’s still an ambitious undertaking, but for different reasons. There’s a fundamental paradox at play in today’s unscripted and non-fiction content business: the streaming era has brought a wealth of new players to the table but that industry (and audience) shift has greatly impacted the influence – and commissioning power – of the linear landscape. Some non-fiction genres, as a result, are flourishing commercially, while others are struggling.

Still, one thing that has remained constant through the two decades of the Global 100, and its various iterations, is the unyielding pursuit of excellence in storytelling. The platforms and screens may change – for example, this year’s collection of prodcos, arranged in “Top 10” lists for different categories, sees several digital-first prodcos featured. But the attention to quality, the strength of the creative vision and business acumen, and the fierce spirit of resilience have been hallmarks of every company that has been part of our Global 100 over the past 20 years, and this year is no exception.