New York closes in on California as top state for film and TV production spend
ProdPro's third-quarter data shows California still ahead in film and TV production spend, $1.76 billion to New York's $1.61 billion, but New York is growing far faster.
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The story, neutrally told
Mixed · 2California kept the top spot in U.S. movie and TV production spend in the third quarter with $1.76 billion, but New York was close behind at $1.61 billion, according to industry tracker ProdPro's quarterly snapshot released on Thursday 15 October. The Hollywood ReporterLC “While California kept its crown at No. 1 with $1.76 billion in movie and TV production spend” Read at The Hollywood Reporter ↗ New York PostR “California held the top spot after spending nearly $1.76 billion on movie and TV production, followed by New York with $1.61 billion spent.” Read at New York Post ↗ Mixed · 2New York's spend rose 87 percent in the quarter, against a 17 percent rise in California. The Hollywood ReporterLC “The state surged 87 percent in production spend in the quarter to $1.61 billion compared with California’s 17 percent uptick.” Read at The Hollywood Reporter ↗ New York PostR “New York State’s expenditure grew by a massive 87%” Read at New York Post ↗ Mixed · 2ProdPro co-founder and CEO Alex LoVerde said California's spending is starting to rise again but New York's rebound has accelerated this year. He said California held its lead by just $147 million, that his team thought New York might come out ahead, and that whether it can overtake California is a key question for Q4 and 2027. The Hollywood ReporterLC “California held its lead by just $147 million. Whether New York can overtake it is a key question we’ll be watching in Q4 and 2027.” Read at The Hollywood Reporter ↗ New York PostR “He said his team thought New York might actually come out at top while they compiled the figures.” Read at New York Post ↗
Mixed · 2Both outlets credit New York's momentum to expanded soundstage capacity, a large union crew base and easy access to nearby Tri-State locations. They cite CBRE data that soundstage inventory has grown 43 percent since 2020. The Hollywood ReporterLC “Bulked up soundstage infrastructure, a large crewmember union base, easier access to neighboring Tri-State locations are all adding up for New York.” Read at The Hollywood Reporter ↗ New York PostR “New York’s momentum can be attributed to expanded soundstage infrastructure, a large base of union crew members, and easy access to neighboring Tri-State locations.” Read at New York Post ↗ Mixed · 2New York is also winning multi-season scripted TV, which California has been losing. This season it hosts CIA, FBI, Elsbeth, The Fall and Rise of Reggie Dinkins, Law & Order and Law & Order: SVU, and in October crews arrived in the city for Protective Custody, Deep Cuts and PREPPY. The Hollywood ReporterLC “New York also has what all states covet, and what California has been losing: scripted TV shows that run for seasons and seasons” Read at The Hollywood Reporter ↗ New York PostR “California is increasingly losing long-term scripted series, whereas New York is fast becoming the go-to destination for multi-season productions.” Read at New York Post ↗ Mixed · 2Nearby New Jersey is building up studio capacity: Netflix is constructing a base at the former Fort Monmouth site and Paramount signed a 10-year lease at 1888 Studios in Bayonne. The Hollywood Reporter adds that Lionsgate anchors Great Point Studios in Newark, and that New Jersey's filming count fell 24 percent year over year because its soundstages are at capacity, according to former state film commission director Jon Crowley. New York PostR “Netflix is constructing its East Coast production hub at the former Fort Monmouth site and Paramount secured a 10-year lease to anchor Bayonne’s in-development 1888 Studios.” Read at New York Post ↗ The Hollywood ReporterLC “While New Jersey fell 24 percent in filming count year-over-year in the quarter” Read at The Hollywood Reporter ↗
Left · 1The Hollywood Reporter reports that Gov. Gavin Newsom, his office and Los Angeles officials are pledging to cut red tape and curb production flight. It also notes that Georgia's spend rose 32 percent, that Illinois had more projects but lower spend, that New Mexico fell 93 percent year over year, and that total U.S. production spend was $4.9 billion, up 17 percent. The Hollywood ReporterLC “Gov. Gavin Newsom and his office, along with state and local officials in Los Angeles are all pledging to reduce red tape, curb production flight and keep studios in Burbank and Hollywood.”“Overall, U.S. production spend accounted for $4.9 billion in the quarter, up 17 percent year-over-year.” Read at The Hollywood Reporter ↗ Right · 1The New York Post adds that the trend is not new: ProdPro's second-quarter data, as reported by THR in July, had California at $1.33 billion (up 5 percent) and New York at nearly $1.06 billion (up 57 percent). It also says Sunset Pier 94 Studios opened in Manhattan earlier this year. New York PostR “California led with $1.33 billion in spend, up 5 percent year over year, while New York rose 57 percent to nearly $1.06 billion”“The launch of Sunset Pier 94 Studios in Manhattan earlier this year has put purpose-built, state-of-the-art soundstages directly inside the city.” Read at New York Post ↗
Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on. The pill in front of each says where its sources sit: Left, Centre or Right when one side supplies at least half of them, Mixed when they are evenly split. The number is how many outlets it cites.
Left1 outlet
- Framing
- A trade-press business analysis: a power shift to the East Coast, set among a wider map of state-by-state production trends.
- Emphasis
- Detailed state comparisons (Georgia, New Jersey, Illinois, New Mexico), California's retention efforts, the Paramount/Ellison dispute and the federal tax credit.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Does not frame the shift as a failure of California's business strategy.
- Charged language
- “power shift”“hot streak”
- For example
-
“A power shift is underway as the Empire State surges while Hollywood's historic home aims to retain as many projects as it can.” — The Hollywood Reporter
“New York City is on a hot streak.” — The Hollywood Reporter
Centre0 outlets
No centre outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
Right1 outlet
- Framing
- A shorter rewrite of THR's reporting that casts the data as California being dethroned by New York.
- Emphasis
- The gap closing, New York's 87 percent growth, the earlier Q2 trend and New York studio infrastructure.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Leaves out California's response (Newsom, red tape pledges), the state's 80 projects, and the other states' results. Does not mention that THR notes a 17 percent rise is nothing to scoff at.
- Charged language
- “dethroned”“massive 87%”“cracks in Hollywood’s business strategy”
- For example
-
“The Big Apple may soon dethrone Los Angeles as moviemakers’ top choice.” — New York Post
“the cracks in Hollywood’s business strategy have been visible for a while now” — New York Post
What every side reports
- California led third-quarter production spend at about $1.76 billion; New York was second at $1.61 billion.
- New York's spend rose 87 percent against California's 17 percent, per ProdPro.
- New York has not yet overtaken California; ProdPro's LoVerde called it a key question for Q4 and 2027.
- Soundstage growth, union crews and Tri-State access are cited for New York's rise.
Where accounts differ
-
How far California's position has slipped
- Left
- The Hollywood Reporter says a 17 percent rise is 'nothing to scoff at', and notes California's 80 live-action projects and officials' efforts to retain production.
- Centre
- No centre outlet covered the story.
- Right
- The New York Post says California is losing ground, with 'cracks in Hollywood’s business strategy' and a headline saying LA is to be 'dethroned'.
California place
Still the top state by spend, with officials pledging to cut red tape and keep productions, while its growth lags New York's.
“Gov. Gavin Newsom and his office, along with state and local officials in Los Angeles are all pledging to reduce red tape, curb production flight and keep studios in Burbank and Hollywood.” — The Hollywood Reporter
New York State place
Presented as the fast-rising challenger, with expanded soundstages, union crews and multi-season TV.
“California is increasingly losing long-term scripted series, whereas New York is fast becoming the go-to destination for multi-season productions.” — New York Post
New York City place
Hosts many October shoots and, per the Post, has new purpose-built soundstages.
“The launch of Sunset Pier 94 Studios in Manhattan earlier this year has put purpose-built, state-of-the-art soundstages directly inside the city.” — New York Post
Left1 article
-
New York Poised to Overtake California as Top State for Movie and TV Production
Neutral Data-driven trade report placing New York's rise within a multi-state picture and California's retention efforts.
Centre0 articles
No coverage yet.
Right1 article
-
LA to be dethroned as movie and TV production capital — by an East Coast state
Mixed Condensed, attributed rewrite of THR that emphasises California's decline with a 'dethroned' headline.
- 15 Oct 16:00 First The Hollywood ReporterLC New York Poised to Overtake California as Top State for Movie and TV Production
- 15 Oct 23:06 +7h 6m New York PostR LA to be dethroned as movie and TV production capital — by an East Coast state
Times are when each article was published, or when we first saw it if the outlet gave no time.
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