How could BBC Studios moving ABC production to California affect The Walt Disney Company?
Disney's ABC production shift may alter content creation costs and structure BBC Studios is seeking a California tax credit to facilitate the move of the ABC summer hit, Dancing with the Stars: The Next Pro, from Australia to California for a potential second season. This move is part of a broader industry trend to cut production costs, as noted by the reports. Since The Walt Disney Company is the corporate parent and owner of ABC, any change in the production location or the financial structure of key ABC content directly impacts the operational framework of the parent company. The tax credit, enabled by the California Film & Television Jobs Act, could influence the budget and long-term production strategy for the series.
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- Mild negative
- How direct
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- When
- Within weeks
- The story
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How it reaches The Walt Disney Company
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BBC Studios is seeking a California tax credit to move the production of the ABC summer hit, *Dancing with the Stars: The Next Pro*, to Los Angeles. The company filed the paperwork and is in Phase 2 of the application process. The show's first season was filmed in Brisbane, Australia, where it employed around 110 local cast and crew and contributed an estimated A$7.
The full event1independent outlet -
The Walt Disney Company functions as the corporate parent and owner of the ABC television network, meaning operational changes to ABC's production pipeline affect the parent company.
No report states this step directly. Brind drew it from the reporting on each side of it, so treat it as an informed guess.
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The facts so far
As reported. Each one links to where it comes from.
- BBC Studios is seeking a California tax credit to move ABC production of Dancing with the Stars: The Next Pro.deadline.com
- The show was shot in Brisbane, largely in the Thomas Dixon Centre, home of the Queensland Ballet.deadline.com
- The first season employed around 110 local cast and crew and contributed an estimated A$7.2M ($5M) to the local Australian economy.deadline.com
- The California Film & Television Jobs Act expanded the tax credits system to include unscripted shows for the first time.deadline.com
Why it matters
The Walt Disney Company, through its ownership of ABC, operates one of the largest broadcast networks in the United States. Decisions regarding where and how content is produced—such as the potential move of a major summer hit like Dancing with the Stars: The Next Pro—have implications for the network's overall operational budget and content strategy.
This shift is occurring amid a wider industry trend where major studios are moving production to states like Georgia to cut costs, following reports that on-location production in L.A. was down 13% from the previous year. This trend puts pressure on content creators to find more cost-effective production hubs.
What we don't know yet
- Will ABC officially renew Dancing with the Stars: The Next Pro for a second season?
- What is the specific financial impact of the California tax credit on the production budget?
What would change this answer
Who else could feel it
Other possible ripples from the same event.
- KGO-TVPossibleABC production shift to California may change KGO-TV's operational focus
- NBCPossibleABC's move to California may strengthen its competitive edge over rivals
- State of CaliforniaPossibleCalifornia's tax credit system may see new activity as BBC Studios seeks funding
- HollywoodPossibleTax credit move could boost Hollywood's production community
Reporting
- deadline.comThursday
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Brind's analysis is written by AI from the reporting linked above and can be wrong. This explainer is a possibility worth considering, not a forecast: steps marked as Brind's reasoning are not stated in the reporting. It is not investment advice; do your own research.