From California Post · · 1m 20s
American Idol leaves Los Angeles for Atlanta
The singing show is moving production to Georgia as Los Angeles loses more reality TV work to tax breaks elsewhere.
In brief
The singing show is moving production to Georgia as Los Angeles loses more reality TV work to tax breaks elsewhere. Tax credits are pulling unscripted TV jobs away from Los Angeles, even as California tries to win some of that work back. Originally reported by California Post.
Idol exits Hollywood
American Idol is moving production from Los Angeles to the greater Atlanta area before its 25th season. Fremantle confirmed the shift to Deadline.
““American Idol” is packing up Hollywood and heading across the country.”
Georgia made it cheaper
Georgia offers up to a 30% tax credit for qualifying unscripted and reality shows that spend at least $500,000 in the state.
“A primary driver behind the exit is Georgia’s lucrative tax incentive program”
A long LA run
The show began on Fox in 2002 and became a ratings force with Ryan Seacrest, Simon Cowell, Paula Abdul, and Randy Jackson. ABC revived it in 2018.
Reality shoots are sliding
FilmLA data shows LA reality TV shoot days fell 40% year over year in the second quarter. Unscripted production is down 62.7% against its five-year average.
“reality TV shoot days plunging 40% year-over-year”
The Masked Singer left too
Fox stopped producing The Masked Singer earlier this year. Eureka Productions took over and moved it to New Jersey for that state’s tax credits.
California narrows its pitch
California expanded incentives to include unscripted series, but only large competition shows with per-episode budgets above $1 million qualify.
The headline
Tax credits are pulling unscripted TV jobs away from Los Angeles, even as California tries to win some of that work back.
