Reality TV Production in Los Angeles Hits New Low

The production of reality television in Los Angeles has plummeted dramatically. Despite hopes for an increase in unscripted TV production following post-strike industry adjustments, a bounce-back has been elusive.

Between April and June 2024, on-location reality TV filming days dropped nearly 57%, totaling 868 shoot days compared to the same period in 2023. This follows an 18% decline in the first quarter of 2024, which saw 1,317 shoot days. Overall, on-location production stood at 5,749 shoot days in the second quarter of 2024, representing a 12.4% year-over-year decrease according to a report from FilmLA .

Shows like Selling Sunset , American Idol , John Mulaney Presents: Everybody’s in LA and 90 Day Fiancé remain successful, however, they were not enough to offset the overall decline, leading to a 28% drop in the entire television production category compared to last year.

“Unscripted television is a location-heavy format that generates significant permit volume,” Philip Sokoloski, FilmLA’s VP of Integrated Communications said. “Although its employment impact is lower than scripted TV, reality production remains a crucial part of L.A.’s production economy.”

Factors behind the downturn include consolidation, budget cuts and risk averse executives exercising caution about new projects, according to industry insiders. The decline also coincides with the Writers Guild of America strike, which began in 2023, and strongly decreased scripted production during that time.

Patrick Caligiuri, a producer known for Naked and Afraid and American Idol , said that the data “is not surprising because the numbers are reflecting what everybody in the industry has been feeling over the last year.” He noted how workers continue to struggle.

“No one’s saying they’re making the same rate they were making before. Everybody’s saying at this point, ‘I’m lucky to get a job,’” Caligiuri shared.

In addition to the decline in reality TV, feature film production fell by 3.3% to 704 shoot days, and commercial production dropped by 5.1% to 817 shoot days in the same quarter. Despite these declines, scripted content did slightly better, with TV drama and comedy production nearly doubling to 885 shoot days combined.

Starting in 2025, California's tax credits will become refundable for the first time since they began in 2009, potentially making the state more competitive for reality TV production.