FilmL.A.–the not-for-profit organization that coordinates permits for filmed entertainment shot on location in the City of Los Angeles, unincorporated parts of L.A. County and other local jurisdictions–reported that overall on-location filming declined 14.3 percent for the third quarter of 2009 as compared to the same quarter in 2008. There were 9,680 permitted production days (PPD) in July through September ’09 compared to 11,300 PPD tallied during the same period in ’08.
However, bucking that downward trend was activity on the feature film and commercialmaking fronts. For the latter category, which had seen four straight quarters of double-digit losses, there were 1,215 PPD in the third quarter of this year in Greater Los Angeles, a 10.2 percent increase over the 1,103 PPD registered from July through September ’08.
Even with that improved performance, location shoot days for commercials are still down 21-plus percent in ’09 when stacked up against ’08.
“Gains for the beleaguered industry sector are a welcome occurrence, because commercial production is such an important contributor to our local economy,” said Paul Audley, president of FilmL.A. “We hope this uptick is a bellwether of an improving national economy.”
As for the feature location lensing increase, the upswing was 25 percent-plus in Q3 ’09 versus the same three-month stretch in ’08. This marks the first time the feature filming category has not suffered double-digit losses in five straight quarters. Still, the third quarter ’09 gain must be viewed in light of last year’s drastically diminished feature production in the third quarter, after major studios had rushed to complete films ahead of a June 30, ’08 labor contract expiration. And even with a significant improvement this past quarter, features are still 37.4 percent down year-to-date as compared to the first nine months of ’08.
The TV category and all its subcategories reflect on-location filming in decline during the third quarter of ’09. Television production went down 21.4 percent this past quarter versus the same stretch in ’08. The subcategories’ quarterly losses spanned dramas (down nearly seven percent), sitcoms (a decrease of almost 48 percent), reality TV (down 20 percent) and TV pilots (a decrease of nearly 26 percent).
Apple and Google Face UK Investigation Into Mobile Browser Dominance
Apple and Google aren't giving consumers a genuine choice of mobile web browsers, a British watchdog said Friday in a report that recommends they face an investigation under new U.K. digital rules taking effect next year.
The Competition and Markets Authority took aim at Apple, saying the iPhone maker's tactics hold back innovation by stopping rivals from giving users new features like faster webpage loading. Apple does this by restricting progressive web apps, which don't need to be downloaded from an app store and aren't subject to app store commissions, the report said.
"This technology is not able to fully take off on iOS devices," the watchdog said in a provisional report on its investigation into mobile browsers that it opened after an initial study concluded that Apple and Google effectively have a chokehold on "mobile ecosystems."
The CMA's report also found that Apple and Google manipulate the choices given to mobile phone users to make their own browsers "the clearest or easiest option."
And it said that the a revenue-sharing deal between the two U.S. Big Tech companies "significantly reduces their financial incentives" to compete in mobile browsers on Apple's iOS operating system for iPhones.
Both companies said they will "engage constructively" with the CMA.
Apple said it disagreed with the findings and said it was concerned that the recommendations would undermine user privacy and security.
Google said the openness of its Android mobile operating system "has helped to expand choice, reduce prices and democratize access to smartphones and apps" and that it's "committed to open platforms that empower consumers."
It's the latest move by regulators on both sides of the Atlantic to crack down on the... Read More