A Plea to Keep Cameras Rolling in New York (Hollywood bailout - Dinosaur Media DeathWatch™)

The New York Times ^ | March 3, 2009 | Christine Haughney

[abb]

Even the film and television industry, one of the few fields generating profits in the throes of this recession, says it needs government help to stay in New York.

At a news conference at Kaufman Astoria Studios in Queens, dozens of film and television workers gathered on Monday to ask politicians to expand the incentive program offered to their industry in the past few years, not scale it back as planned.

The program, which offers studios tax credits from the city and state for up to 35 percent of the production costs — 30 percent from the state and 5 percent from the city — has been so successful that the state has already paid out the $690 million that was to last through 2013.

That money was expected to generate nearly $2.7 billion in state and local taxes through the end of the 2010 fiscal year, according to a report by Ernst & Young. The program’s advocates say it could create and preserve 19,000 jobs and generate $200 million in additional tax revenue for the state in the next 12 to 18 months alone.

But the state, facing its own fiscal restraints, is limiting its portion of the program’s future financing. At a breakfast held by the Association for a Better New York last week, Marisa Lago, president of the Empire State Development Corporation, suggested an alternative program that would cut the state tax break to 20 percent from 30 percent and limit the total amount distributed to $100 million a year.

“We are committed to this vital industry, and we are working to ensure that New York remains in front of the cameras,” she said. “Funding to this important program has not been cut, but exhausted due to its immense popularity with the film and television industry.”

snip

[abb]

The Hollywood poverty class...

[abb]

ping

[abb]

http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2009/03/02/business/AP-PhiladelphiaNewspaper.html?_r=1&ref=business
Philadelphia Daily News to Be Edition of Inquirer

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/editorialsopinion/2008794898_edita01news.html
Repackaging the news is not journalism

http://www.beeguildnow.org/?p=147
Heated talks end; bad deal saves jobs

http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2009/03/02/dispatch_staff.html?sid=101
‘Dispatch’ announces 45 layoffs on editorial staff

http://www.philly.com/philly/hp/news_update/20090303_In_newspapers__Ch__11_case__hint_of_a_secret_recording.html
In newspapers’ Ch. 11 case, hint of a secret recording

[4rcane]

film industry greedy. You guys should do without profit

[TornadoAlley3]

And then there is the global effect. Maxine Kaplan, president of the Prop Company — Kaplan & Associates, said that two of the seven workers she employs are from Tibet and depend on their salaries to send money to relatives overseas.

[abb]

http://www.deadlinehollywooddaily.com/
Sony Pics Entertainment Plans Layoffs

http://cancelthebee.blogspot.com/
Five newspapers are in penny stock territory

Report: Modesto Bee management outlines proposed layoffs, wage reductions, and unpaid furloughs

Bellingham Herald to lay off 8, will implement wage reduction

The Sun News announces 20 layoffs, plus wage reductions

[Izzy Dunne]

has been so successful that the state has already paid out the $690 million

A weird definition of "success".

[abb]

To be sure, I’m not against tax breaks for business. But if they’re good for Hollywood types, then they’re good for shopkeepers, grocery stores and everyone else.

[eyeamok]

Does this mean they will have to sell their private jets?? is everyones salary going to be limited $250,000??

eyeamok

[Malsua]

These same jokers screaming for tax breaks would pretty much vote for every tax and spend liberal in office with a D attached to their name.

Eff you.

[abb]

http://www.denverpost.com/ci_11822644?source=rss
Bloggers killed Rocky, Polis asserts

http://american.com/archive/2009/february-2009/preparing-the-obituary
Preparing the Obituary

http://www.salon.com/news/brand_graveyard/2009/03/03/rocky_mountain_news/
The death throes of my newspaper

[abb]

Absolutely shameless vanity re-ping and bump!!!

http://recoveringjournalist.typepad.com/recovering_journalist/
“They Hate Us Out There”

snip

Want a taste? Jump into any of the discussions here, at FreeRepublic.com, one of the leading right-wing Web sites. A regular feature called “Dinosaur Media Death Watch” chronicles every development in the decline of the journalism business in detail that surpasses even Romenesko–except that these dispatches are accompanied by unalloyed glee. The standard comment about newspaper layoffs or closings is something along the lines of “good riddance.” You’ll see similar sentiments expressed at other conservative sites. It’s nasty stuff.

In the FreeRepublic view of the media world, newspapers are dying–and should die–because they’re inaccurate, too liberal and too arrogant. These folks believe, in fact, that those alleged failings are driving readers and advertisers away, causing newspaper problems that go far beyond the real factors like Internet competition, the decline of classifieds and the economy. Like Polis, they revel in how alternative formats like blogs are causing problems for traditional media.

snip

[abb]

http://jeffreygoldberg.theatlantic.com/archives/2009/03/go_to_hell_jared_polis.php
Go to Hell, Jared Polis

http://www.magazinedeathpool.com/
URB magazine knocking on the Reaper’s door?

[abb]

http://www.niemanlab.org/2009/03/hearsts-100-days-on-the-right-track-or-misguided/#more-2588
Hearst’s 100 days of change: On the right track, or misguided?

http://www.newspaperdeathwatch.com/
New Republic Tries, Fails to Enlighten

[papasmurf]

Hollywood is already getting bailouts via the banks. I know, factually, City National Bank took a bailout for the sole purpose of bailing out two studios.

[abb]

http://gannettblog.blogspot.com/
Urgent: Bludgeoned again, Gannett free-falls 21%; market cap now $525M; broader markets slipping

http://www.mediapost.com/publications/?fa=Articles.showArticle&art_aid=101372
Moonves: CBS Sells Fewer Ads, Pilots

http://www.mediapost.com/publications/?fa=Articles.showArticle&art_aid=101322
Viacom’s Dauman: MTV Ratings Down, Original Programming Valued

[abb]

http://www.medialifemagazine.com/artman2/publish/New_media_23/Local_media_outlook_Declining_dollars.asp
Local media outlook: Declining dollars

http://www.medialifemagazine.com/artman2/publish/New_media_23/On_papers_efforts_to_charge_for_content.asp
On papers’ efforts to change for content

http://www.medialifemagazine.com/artman2/publish/Research_25/DVR_users_also_watch_more_TV_online.asp
DVR users also watch more TV online

[abb]

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=newsarchive&sid=a6e0xXUcfrbg
CBS Chief Moonves Says Networks May Sell Fewer ‘Upfront’ Ads

http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/Satellite-TV-firms-take-hit/story.aspx?guid={EF69AD28-DA23-4C7F-BF04-FCB0136AD12B}
Dish sees profits rise, but loses customers

[abb]

http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/189375-CBS_s_Moonves_Rules_Out_CNN_CBS_News_Merger.php
CBS’s Moonves Rules Out CNN/CBS News Merger

[TenthAmendmentChampion]

Go get ‘em Abb!! LOL