Written by on Jul 23, 2012. Posted in Incentive News

UK TV tax credit could secure Game of Thrones long-term

A TV tax credit in the UK could secure Game of Thrones for Northern Ireland on a long-term basis. Frank Doelger, an Executive Producer on the show, revealed that an incentive could trump any pressures to show audiences new locations.

Game of Thrones has been based at Belfast’s Paint Hall Studios for the past two seasons and has returned for a third. At the moment the UK doesn’t offer a tax credit for TV productions, but the Government recently announced plans to change this in 2013 and is in the middle of an industry consultation.

That would definitely be a deciding factor. If the tax credit does pass then I think our future here would be assured.

Frank Doelger, Executive Producer

Doelger spoke to the Belfast Telegraph: “We do want to keep the show fresh and have to keep finding new locations. I think also the passage of the UK tax credit is important. If it does come in and applies to high-end television, that will make a huge difference for us.

“That would definitely be a deciding factor. If the tax credit does pass then I think our future here would be assured.”

In the past TV productions that might otherwise have filmed in the UK have travelled to places like South Africa, Eastern Europe or Ireland where the tax credits have been more inviting. Since the UK Government pledged to launch a TV incentive South Africa has expanded its programme and Ireland is considering whether or not to sweeten its own offering.