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The Good News for Los Angeles Is That TV Pilots Generated Close to $300 Million in Production Spending this Year. But There’s Also Bad News for L.A. About the Pilot Season

Jun 25, 2013  •  Post A Comment

There’s good news and bad news for Los Angeles about this year’s TV pilot season, reports Dave McNary in Variety.

On the good news side of the ledger the article states, "The 96 TV pilots shot in Los Angeles this year generated $277.8 million in production spending, up 6% over last year, according to the FilmL.A. permitting agency."

On the bad news front, the story notes, "Hollywood’s share of pilots has been declining with just 52% of all pilots in the current cycle, the second lowest on record and far below the 82% percent share in 2007."

Back to the good news: "FilmLA said the 96 projects were the second largest annual tally in Los Angeles’ history, up four from last year and six fewer that the peak year in 2005. It also noted that from Jan. 1 to June 10 this year, permitted production days for pilots were up almost 40% over 2012."

And on the negative side, "“By the beginning of the 2013/2014 fall viewing season, L.A.’s share of network screen time devoted to primetime scripted dramas will have fallen below 40%, a new low,” the report noted. “In all, viewers this fall will be exposed to 38 L.A.-based shows (15 dramas, 23 comedies). And viewers will also be exposed to 27 shows filmed outside the region (26 dramas, 1 comedy). Come mid-season, L.A.’s drama share could be even smaller, since just one L.A. show was picked up as a midseason replacement.”

The story also notes, "“By the beginning of the 2013/2014 fall viewing season, L.A.’s share of network screen time devoted to primetime scripted dramas will have fallen below 40%, a new low,” the report noted. “In all, viewers this fall will be exposed to 38 L.A.-based shows (15 dramas, 23 comedies). And viewers will also be exposed to 27 shows filmed outside the region (26 dramas, 1 comedy). Come mid-season, L.A.’s drama share could be even smaller, since just one L.A. show was picked up as a midseason replacement.”

To read more details we urge you to click on the link in our first paragraph, above, to read McNary’s excellent full article.

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