NY Post: State Based TV Production Facing Dire Future

The New York Post's Stefanie Cohen reports that television shows shot in New York will be going away if lawmakers don't allow for film and television industry tax breaks in the new state budget.

"If this program is curtailed in any way, it will force shows to re-evaluate their future in New York," said one industry executive to The New York Post. Other shows, like NBC's "30 Rock" and HBO's "In Treatment," are in a holding pattern. Both qualified for the rebate but now cannot cash in because the funds are gone.

NBC officials would not comment to the Post on "30 Rock's" future.

Last year New York state offered films and TV shows that filmed here a 30 percent tax break on production costs. The state slated $690 million in tax breaks through 2013. The program brought so much business to the state that funds ran out last month. Last year alone the state allocated $460 million in rebates. Sources to Cohen the current figure in the budget is $350 million for next year -- and nothing after that.

Last year, 19 pilots shot in New York. Since the funds dried up last month, no new pilots have been scheduled. A total of 26 series were shot here last season, and all the major studios were so booked they were turning business away, said Stuart Suna, head of Silvercup Studios. To read the entire column, click here.

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