Shows to create more production jobs in Connecticut

Posted on July 8, 2014

Disney-ABC Domestic Television has relocated “Who Wants To Be A Millionaire,” from New York to Connecticut, a move that will create more production jobs in Connecticut.

The transfer will create 150 new jobs in the state. “Who Wants To Be A Millionaire” is now entering its thirteenth year in syndication and began shooting for the 2014-2015 season last week at the Connecticut Film Center in Stamford.

Several companies, including ESPN, have recently either moved operations to the state or significantly expanded existing infrastructure.

Just this month, ESPN opened Digital Center 2, its 194,000 square foot, state-of-the-art digital production center, housing multiple studios and the new home for its SportsCenter franchise.

“This relocation – and the 150 jobs that come with it – is just the latest example of how our efforts to build Connecticut’s television and digital media industry have paid off tremendously over the last three years,” said Governor Malloy.

“With successful economic development tools like our motion picture tax credit program, we will continue to attract the kinds of productions and digital media that not only bring new investments to our state, but also good-paying jobs with good benefits for our residents.”

As the show’s production entity, Disney’s Valleycrest Productions is eligible to take advantage of the state Department of Economic and Community Development’s (DECD) Digital Media and Motion Picture Tax Credit Program.

The program provides companies with up to a 30 percent tax credit for production expenses. Since 2006 DECD has issued $365 million in tax credits, leveraging the expenditure of $1.2 billion dollars in film, television and digital media production.