Los Angeles Pilot Production Share Takes a Hit

5:35 AM PDT 6/8/2011 by Georg Szalai

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In a record year with 169 projects, the LA region's share dropped to only 51 percent amid competition from New York, Florida and other states.

NEW YORK - Los Angeles produced 87 TV show pilots this year, up from 76 last year and the second-highest annual figure since a peak in 2004/2005, according to a report from nonprofit film permitting group FilmL.A.

However, the LA region's share of pilot production dropped again to hit only 51 percent, down from 58 percent last year and 82 percent six years ago, the LA Times reported.

FilmL.A. cited ongoing competition from such states as New York, Florida, Georgia and Louisiana as a reason.

This pilot season saw New York attract 17 pilots, up from only 5 last year, according to FilmL.A. data. Local officials in New York have even spoken of 20 pilots helped by a new multi-year production tax credit program.

New York officials on Tuesday had also said that the state has attracted a record eight new fall season shows.

In its sixth annual survey of TV pilot production, FilmL.A. said that growth in cable TV productions, driven by cable comedies, made the most recent pilot season the most productive on record with 169 projects.

Email: Georg.Szalai@thr.com

Twitter: @georgszalai