By Jesse Lent and Alan Neuhauser
DNAinfo New York Staff
NEW YORK — Smile for the camera. Already America's most photographed city, New York enjoyed a multi-billion economic boost from TV, film and digital productions last year, according to a study conducted by the Boston Consulting Group.
The TV, film, and digital entertainment industries generated $7.1 billion for the city in 2011, the study found. They have employed 130,000 New Yorkers since 2004, and gained 40,000 jobs over the last decade – even as the national media sector lost 40,000 jobs. Most of that growth was driven by TV productions, the report found, which grew by 82 percent.
"Without a doubt, our booming media and entertainment industry is one of the main reasons why we have weathered the national recession better than most of the rest of the country,” Mayor Michael Bloomberg said at a press conference Tuesday afternoon at 30 Rockefeller Plaza, NBC's headquarters.
Members of "Saturday Night Live" cast joined him at the podium.
“This feels so much like a sketch to me,” grinned veteran castmember Seth Meyers. He grew more serious, though, as he touted the mayor’s role in bringing production companies to New York.
“New York City is the premiere city for television in the world,” Meyers said. "We’re lucky to have a mayor who stands behind that and sees the value of TV for New Yorkers."
