Brief

Hollywood unions cite study showing U.S. TV spending fell to 64% as they push for tax credit

A report commissioned by seven Hollywood unions shows a sharp decline in domestic TV production spending and backs a bipartisan tax‑credit bill.

By Felo News Desk · Published Wed, 07 Oct 2026 04:08:06 GMT

Seven Hollywood unions released a study on Oct. 6 that says the U.S. share of major‑studio spending on television episodes has dropped from 94% in the late 1990s to 64% today, according to the Los Angeles Times.

What happened

The EY Quantitative Economics and Statistics analysis examined productions costing at least $5 million for feature films, $1 million for TV episodes under 41 minutes and $1.7 million for longer episodes. It found the domestic share of TV spending fell by 30 percentage points over the past 25 years, while the share of film spending fell from 74% to 42% between 1999 and 2024.

What the reports add

The unions’ report is timed with the introduction of the Motion Picture, Television and Entertainment Revitalization Act, a bipartisan bill that would create a 20% tax credit on U.S. labor costs for eligible film and TV projects, with possible uplifts to 30% for independent productions or work in qualified zones. The bill’s sponsors include Reps. Nathaniel Moran (R‑TX), Linda Sánchez (D‑CA), Brian Jack (R‑GA) and Laura Friedman (D‑CA), and Sens. Tim Scott (R‑SC) and Adam Schiff (D‑CA).

What was said

“Many generations who have made their living in this industry are now having to question whether there’s a future for this industry in the United States,” Rebecca Rhine, associate national executive director of the Directors Guild of America, told the Los Angeles Times.

How it came about

The study was commissioned by the DGA, IATSE, SAG‑AFTRA and the Writers Guild of America to quantify location shifts for productions between 1999 and 2024. The unions argue the data underscores the urgency of the pending tax‑credit legislation, which is unlikely to be voted on until after the November midterm elections.

Key facts

U.S. share of major‑studio TV spending fell from 94% to 64% over 25 years (latimes.com)
U.S. share of major‑studio film spending fell from 74% to 42% between 1999 and 2024 (latimes.com)
The Motion Picture, Television and Entertainment Revitalization Act proposes a 20% tax credit on U.S. labor costs, with possible uplifts to 30% (latimes.com)
The bill is sponsored by Reps. Nathaniel Moran, Linda Sánchez, Brian Jack, Laura Friedman and Sens. Tim Scott and Adam Schiff (latimes.com)
Rebecca Rhine of the DGA said the decline raises questions about the industry's future in the United States (latimes.com)