For over two decades, "American Idol" has been a staple of Los Angeles production, broadcasting live from various studios, including Television City, since its inception in 2002. However, ABC, along with producers Fremantle and 19 Entertainment (owned by Sony Pictures TV), remained silent when asked for comment on the decision to shift operations to Georgia. This departure, initially reported by Deadline, marks "American Idol" as another high-profile reality series to seek out more favorable production climates outside of California.
The move is part of a broader exodus of studio-based reality and game shows from the Golden State. Viewers might be surprised to learn that other popular series have already made similar transitions. Fox’s "The Masked Singer," for instance, now films in New Jersey, moving from its previous home on the Fox lot in Century City. ABC’s "Shark Tank," which once occupied space on the Sony lot in Culver City, has also relocated to Atlanta, as has Fox’s "Lego Masters," formerly produced in Van Nuys. Even beloved game shows like "Family Feud" and "Celebrity Family Feud" have found new homes in the Atlanta area.
At the heart of this migration are state-specific tax incentives and the pursuit of lower production costs. While California has expanded its film and television tax credit program to include some unscripted fare, it comes with stringent conditions. Competition shows, for example, must have a budget exceeding $1 million per episode to qualify – a hurdle even major productions like "American Idol" reportedly struggle to clear. Furthermore, California's incentives still conspicuously exclude docuseries, talk shows, and most game shows.
In stark contrast, states like Georgia and New Jersey offer broader, less restrictive incentive programs. Georgia's tax incentives, for example, require a more accessible total production spend of just $500,000, making it a far more attractive destination for a wider array of productions.
Industry experts are sounding the alarm over California's selective approach. Todd Weinstein, owner of Weinstein Senior, highlighted this concern last year in a LinkedIn post. He noted, "Reality and unscripted television remain excluded (with the exception of competition shows), despite being one of California’s most productive, scalable, and culturally influential sectors." Weinstein emphasized the significant economic contributions of these shows, stating, "These shows generate thousands of jobs, support local vendors, keep post facilities running, and increasingly require the same physical infrastructure as scripted content." He argues that their continued exclusion from comprehensive tax credit frameworks raises serious questions about the long-term viability of keeping such productions within California.
As "American Idol" prepares for its Georgia debut, its departure serves as a potent reminder of the shifting landscape of television production and the urgent need for California to reassess its strategy to retain its status as the entertainment capital.