All articles tagged with #film and tv production
Trump publicly backs a federal film and TV tax credit, urging bipartisan action to revive U.S. production; no specifics on credit size or implementation are provided, while industry groups and Hollywood figures support the idea and California’s incentives move forward separately, leaving a clear national pathway uncertain.
Los Angeles area film and TV production shows a nascent rebound after Apple-like lows, with Q1 2026 shoot days up about 10% from Oct–Dec 2025 and features postings up 52% year-over-year, helped by California’s expanded tax-credit program. Incentivized titles now account for roughly 7% of all shoot days and represent about 22% of feature and 17% of TV production. However, overall shoot days (5,121) remain about 30% below the five-year average, and TV, especially unscripted reality, continues to lag, indicating the rebound is uneven and still fragile despite early signs of improvement.
New data show Los Angeles is losing ground as a hub for film and TV, with Luminate reporting a 24% year-over-year drop in major scripted projects shot there and FilmLA data showing declines across feature, TV, and commercials, totaling 19,694 shoot days in 2025—a sharp drop from 36,792 three years earlier. In response, California boosted incentives to up to $750 million annually and L.A. officials moved to streamline permits and fees to keep productions local, while studios shift work to New Jersey, Georgia, Canada and the UK amid changing distribution models and fewer theatrical releases. The trend highlights a broader global scramble for production locations and the uncertain future of Hollywood’s traditional crown.
Taylor Sheridan is leaving Paramount, signaling a significant change in his relationship with the studio known for producing his popular TV series and films.
California has announced the first round of its $750 million tax incentives program to boost Hollywood production, awarding credits to 22 projects including series from Lionsgate, AppleTV+, Hulu, and Netflix, with the aim of revitalizing the industry after wildfires and runaway production. The incentives are expected to generate over $1.1 billion in economic activity and support thousands of jobs across the state.
Paramount Global and its parent company are nearing an exclusive negotiation agreement with Skydance Media, potentially leading to a three-way transaction that involves Skydance acquiring National Amusements and then Paramount Global. The deal, which has been in discussion for months, aims to keep the company's major film and TV assets intact to maximize value and protect its legacy. The uncertainty around Paramount's future has affected its ability to make deals and has impacted its stock price.
The strikes by the Writers Guild of America and SAG-AFTRA have provided short-term financial relief to Hollywood studios, allowing them to reset their business plans and make cost-cutting measures amid streaming losses. The strikes are estimated to generate about $10 billion in additional free cash flow for major conglomerates like Disney and Warner Bros. Discovery. As a result, studios are expected to trim budgets, reduce the use of A-list talent, and focus on short-term project deals. The strikes have also caused delays in film and TV production, resulting in a thinner slate of blockbusters and shorter seasons for viewers. The industry is likely to see a wave of austerity measures and a shift towards prioritizing quality over quantity in streaming content.
California has extended its $330 million tax incentive for film and TV production for five more years, making the credit refundable for the first time. The bill also includes provisions for promoting diversity in the industry and establishing gun safety requirements. In a separate move, New Jersey has expanded its incentive for production infrastructure, aiming to attract Netflix and Lionsgate to build new studios in the state. The cap on New Jersey's incentive for studio construction will increase, and the incentive for production companies leasing space at New Jersey studios will also rise. Other states like New York and Texas have also recently increased their film tax incentives, while Nevada's bill to provide incentives for film and TV projects was not approved.
Hasbro is in talks with Entertainment One founder Darren Throop to sell the film and TV production and distribution unit he sold to the toy giant in 2019. J.P. Morgan and Centerview Partners have led a formal auction for eOne, which has a film and TV library with around 6,500 titles. Any possible sale of eOne is likely to see Hasbro retain Peppa Pig and other key properties acquired when the toy maker acquired the Toronto-based indie studio four years ago as part of a $4 billion all-cash transaction.