CBS already films three shows in Southern California. But in order to shoot more in the area, network executives said on Wednesday they would like to see some policy changes.
During a press briefing for CBS’ 2026-2027 primetime lineup, CBS Entertainment president Amy Reinsenbach and Paramount chair of TV media George Cheeks were asked about what it would take for the network to film more shows in L.A., which has seen a major decline in production work over the last few years.
They noted that if a Matt LeBlanc-starring show they have in development, Flint, is ordered to series, it would shoot in L.A. Matlock, NCIS and NCIS: Origins already shoot locally. But the creation of a federal tax credit and amplifications to California’s existing film and television tax incentive program would help in other cases, they said.
“It ultimately is a studio decision because they are the ones that handle the budgets, but we want to find the right financial model for every show. And when we can, and it makes sense to shoot Los Angeles, we will,” Reisenbach said.
Cheeks added, “We want to shoot as much as possible, but we do have a financial model that we have to hit. So we have to continue to press for federal tax credit as well and to press for even greater improvements on the California credit as well. It’s important.”
Later, Cheeks specified that California covering above-the-line costs with its tax credit — like competitor states New York, Georgia and New Mexico do — would help make the Golden State more attractive to the studio.
In the first quarter of 2026, California saw a 14 percent decline in filming in the state even as its production spend inched up 2 percent, according to a report from ProdPro.
The departure of episodic television production has hit L.A. especially hard. Between 2023 and 2024, scripted television shoot days declined 23 percent on city soundstages, according to a recent report from local film office FilmLA. In the fourth quarter of 2025 on-location shoot days for television also dropped, by nearly 22 percent, according to the same office. Television filming levels were down more than 50 percent compared to the five-year average.
