Britain has emerged as the new hub for American game shows, attracting US networks to bring hundreds of contestants to film their popular programs. The city of Manchester has become a prominent location for US TV productions due to lower filming expenses compared to Hollywood. Notably, the majority of the on-set staff, including the crew, audience, and studio personnel, are British, with only the contestants, executive producers, and writers being Americans.
Industry insiders reveal that producing a US game show can cost up to £1.6 million per episode, but UK tax incentives can reduce this cost to under £750,000, providing significant savings during a challenging period for traditional television. A shift in viewer habits towards streaming services in the US has led to a decline in advertising revenues for broadcast and cable networks.
Recently, a pilot episode of “Wordle,” the TV adaptation of the popular New York Times puzzle, was screened at dock10 in MediaCityUK, Salford. The show’s host, Savannah Guthrie, a well-known figure in the US as the co-anchor of NBC’s “Today” show, had to be introduced to the audience before filming commenced. The Manchester production team managed the entire filming process, indicating a potential for future development in Manchester or Ireland if the show is picked up.
The cost-effectiveness of filming in the UK has prompted US networks to relocate their productions to take advantage of tax breaks and reduce expenses. Shows like “99 To Beat” featuring Ken Jeong, and “Celebrity Name That Tune,” “The Floor,” and “Beat Shazam” are now filmed in London and Ireland. Additionally, “Match Game” was moved to Montreal for ABC, utilizing Canadian crews and contestants.
The economic pressures in the industry have made game shows a more attractive option for production, as they are less costly to produce compared to dramas and still offer a “live” feel to viewers. However, there is a growing demand to produce more content with fewer resources, leading to adaptations in production processes.
The migration of US game shows to the UK and other countries outside the US has accelerated due to the flexibility and cost-effectiveness demonstrated by British studios. The competition for production business has intensified, with Ireland offering competitive tax incentives to attract more international productions. Despite the advantages of filming abroad, concerns have been raised about the potential impact on the US entertainment industry if this trend continues.
Industry experts are hopeful that California, as the home of Hollywood, will implement tax incentives for game show productions to retain its status as a leading entertainment hub. However, no game shows were selected for tax credits in the most recent round of incentives, highlighting the shifting landscape of television production.