California is doubling down on its effort to retain television production, awarding $296 million in tax credits to 16 projects while widening eligibility to include animated and competition programming for the first time.

Among the most notable recipients is Season 3 of HBO Max’s The Pitt, which will receive $24.2 million in subsidies — a significant jump from the $12.2 million allocated to each of its first two seasons. The medical drama, which shoots in Burbank, offers a telling snapshot of the state’s evolving strategy: while its tax credit has doubled, its below-the-line budget has only inched up from $66 million to $69 million, with crew size holding steady at 180.

The shift reflects a deliberate policy choice. Lawmakers structured the expanded program — which Gov. Gavin Newsom increased to $750 million annually last year — to provide larger awards per project, prioritizing the retention of jobs that might otherwise migrate out of state, rather than driving significant job growth.

“California’s creative economy isn’t just part of who we are — it helps power this state forward,” Newsom said in a statement. “From the folks on the soundstage to the people designing the sets, these are jobs that anchor communities. I’m pleased to expand this award to animated and competition shows, helping advance the strongest entertainment economy in the nation and bringing even more good-paying jobs to California.”

The latest allocation spans a mix of returning series, new entries and high-profile studio projects. An untitled series from Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation secured the largest award at $48 million, followed by HBO’s Giant at $38.3 million. Other recipients include HBO’s I Love LA, Warner Bros. Television’s Rooster, and a new competition series from Jimmy Kimmel and YouTuber Mark Rober, marking the program’s first foray into unscripted competition formats.

Animation is also entering the fold, with Adult Swim’s President Curtis and Stewie, a Family Guy spinoff, among the newly eligible projects.

In parallel, California continues to tie incentives to physical production infrastructure. Four projects — How to Survive Without Me, I Love LA, I Suck at Girls and Rooster — were approved under the state’s Soundstage Tax Credit Program, which supports filming at qualified facilities. Currently, Universal, Paramount and The Ranch at Warner Bros. meet the criteria.

Altogether, the selected projects account for $871 million in qualified in-state spending, including $489 million in wages, according to the California Film Commission.

Still, the rollout highlights ongoing challenges in transparency. Several projects were listed as “untitled” despite being identifiable, and the commission moved to retract names for certain shows after initially including them, citing unresolved talent deals.

The broader takeaway is clear: California is no longer competing on volume alone. With other states and countries aggressively courting productions, the state is recalibrating — offering larger, more targeted incentives designed to keep marquee series, established crews and long-running productions anchored locally, even if that doesn’t translate into a surge in new hiring.