L.A. Home to Only Half of 2010-11 TV Pilots

With 169 pilots produced during the 2010-11 development period, television had its most prolific pilot season yet, thanks to a recent increase in cable-bound comedy series. Unfortunately, Los Angeles can’t report such great numbers, as its share of pilots shrunk again in the latest reporting period.

According to the Los Angeles Times, L.A. was home to only 51 percent of pilot shoots. Although its 87 pilots outnumbered the 2009-10 season’s total of 76, they only made up a little more than half of total shows produced, compared to the previous year’s 58 percent. As recently as the 2004-05 season, 82 percent of all pilots were made in the City of Angels.

Because of its rich entertainment history, L.A. is still recognized by most of the country as the place where their favorite TV shows are filmed. However, the Times reports that eastern locales like New York, Florida, Georgia and Louisiana have asserted themselves as television-friendly states in recent years.

“While it comes as no surprise that L.A. would net a lot of comedy pilots and shows this year, to be passed over for new drama pilot and series production is troubling,” said FilmL.A. President Paul Audley, in response to the latest figures. “We can thank the local studio base and vast availability of local soundstages as reasons comedies locate in Los Angeles. But until our state regains its competitive edge, the threat of television job and spending losses is quite real.”

Via the Los Angeles Times