MPAA: Production is Marvel-ous for NY

The Netflix-original Marvel series Daredevil and Jessica Jones, the latter debuting on the streaming service Friday (Nov. 20), have generated tens of millions of dollars to the economy of New York, where both series are shot, according to the Motion Picture Association of America.

 The MPAA said the two productions account for 3,000 jobs and business for 900 vendors in the state.

The organization wanted to spotlight two points in showcasing that impact: (1) the value of production to local economies and producers, and (2) programmers' "embrace" of over-the-top video distribution platforms.

 The FCC has made spurring over-the-top access to programming a policy goal under FCC chairman Tom Wheeler.

The MPAA said the Marvel-Netflix pact of four series and two mini-series, including a second season of Daredevil already in the works, represents the largest TV or film production commitment in the state's history.

 Dan Buckley, president of Marvel Television, credited the state's "film-friendly" environment, which includes tax incentives.

Daredevil and Jessica Jones are produced by Marvel in association with ABC Studios.

"People want to film in New York City," Cynthia Lopez, former commissioner of New York's Office of Media and Entertainment, told Multichannel News last year in advance of NewBay Media's NYC Television Week. "They want the atmosphere and the energy, and they know the infrastructure of crews, actors and stage space that we have here."

John Eggerton

Contributing editor John Eggerton has been an editor and/or writer on media regulation, legislation and policy for over four decades, including covering the FCC, FTC, Congress, the major media trade associations, and the federal courts. In addition to Multichannel News and Broadcasting + Cable, his work has appeared in Radio World, TV Technology, TV Fax, This Week in Consumer Electronics, Variety and the Encyclopedia Britannica.