Mayor's Office of Media and Entertainment Announces Sharp Rise in Number of Broadcast Pilots Shooting In NYC

NEW YORK – New York City has landed nearly twice the number of broadcast drama pilots this season as last year, with 12 network dramas in production in the Big Apple compared to last year's 7, Mayor's Office of Media and Entertainment Commissioner Julie Menin announced today. The number of pilots in production in the five boroughs is also substantially more than that of New York's nearest competitor, Los Angeles with only 8, and represents both the largest number and the largest increase in any U.S. city.

"New York City continues to light up the small screen in homes all across America," said Mayor Bill de Blasio. "It's great to see production activity spreading out throughout the five boroughs and with it, good-paying jobs for more New Yorkers."

The total number of hour-long broadcast drama pilots industry-wide rose to 43 from 38 last year, with New York City landing the biggest increase in volume by far. This year's count of 12 exceeds the city's former high water mark in 2012, when 10 broadcast pilots out of an industry-wide total of 80 filmed here. Three more pilots for cable networks are also in production during pilot season this spring. Television on demand services like Netflix, Amazon and Hulu may shoot their pilot episodes at any time of the year, but the Spring broadcast pilot season is timed to meet the May "up front" schedule when the major broadcast networks greenlight shows.

"The fact that New York City leads the way in the number of broadcast drama pilots this year is great news and it comes as no surprise to those of us familiar with the deep well of talent, great facilities and iconic locations in all five of our boroughs," said Media and Entertainment Commissioner Julie Menin. "Today's announcement bodes well for our city's continued dominance as the episodic TV capital of the world, providing long-lasting, good jobs to New York-based crew members and actors alike."

CBS is shooting the largest number of pilots in New York City with "F.B.I.," "Murder,", "The Code," "Main Justice," and "God Friended Me" all in production. "F.B.I. " is the newest project by top producer Dick Wolf and has already been ordered straight to series. It marks the first time the creator of the "Law and Order" and "Chicago" franchise has filmed a pilot in the New York since 1999, when "Law and Order SVU" debuted.

NBC has 4 pilots in production in the Big Apple, "Manifest," "The Enemy Within," "The Village," and "Bellevue," a medical drama inspired by Twelve Patients: Life and Death at Bellevue Hospital, a memoir by Dr. Eric Manheimer, MD, the former medical director at New York City's Bellevue Hospital, who is also the series producer.

ABC has 3 pilots in production in the five boroughs: "Get Christie Love," "Holmes Sisters," and "The Rookie," also straight to series.

The three additional pilots for cable networks that are also currently in production: "Compliance" for FX, "The Demons of Dorian Gunn" for Pop TV and "Alternatino" for Comedy Central.

New York City boasted a record high 56 episodic series filming in the city in the 2016-2017 television season up from 52 the year before. The expansion in the number of networks and platforms and the accompanying demand for content from streaming services like Netflix, Amazon and Hulu are all fueling the rise in overall level of TV production. In 2017, the Big Apple was the backdrop for 316 feature films, over the previous year's 311.

"The excitement and unique character of New York City continues to attract film and broadcast productions of all genres," said City Council Member Peter Koo, Chair of the Technology Committee. "Clearly, the New York story continues to inspire storytelling, creativity and the imaginations of people around the world."