Sony Pictures Television is the latest TV studio to extend the holiday production break of its series in Los Angeles amid an unprecedented increase in coronavirus infections and Covid-19 deaths in LA County.
Production in the studio’s ABC comedy series The Goldbergs and Netflix’s Atipies, which was to resume next week, week 4 January, was delayed by one week, the week of 11 January. Sony TV’s syndicated game shows Danger! and Wheel of FortunProduction will only resume after January 11 and will start recording as planned.
Sony TV is delaying the start of production on LA-based programs to accommodate additional testing. By holding the shows while the test resumes, the productions meet the new guidelines of the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health for those who come to self-quarantine at least ten days after non-essential travel.
With its decision, Sony TV joins CBS Studios, Warner Bros. TV, Universal TV and Disney TV Studios’ ABC Signature and 20th Television, which also extended the production breaks of their LA series.
The studios are responding to a call by the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, which has urged the film and TV industry to halt production for several weeks during the continuing increase in coronavirus cases in the country. Studios and streamers checked the logistics involved, including the availability of talent and whether cast and crew would be paid for the extra idle days.
On New Year’s Eve, Los Angeles County reported a third consecutive day of coronavirus-related deaths. On Wednesday, the region recorded its 10,000th death related to the virus. The province’s ICU capacity is at 0%. Earlier this week, the local home order for Southern California was extended until January 16th.