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The Time Warner Inc unit is shifting the Emmy Award-winning
show because of better tax incentives, HBO spokesman Quentin
Schaff said in a statement.
"The producers and HBO would like to thank Maryland for making
the last four seasons of Veep such a success," Schaff said. "We
look forward to returning with another production in the
future."
HBO, which has filmed several projects in Maryland over the
years, including "The Wire," "The Corner" and "Game Change," had
long been considering the move for tax incentive reasons.
"Veep," starring Julia Louis-Dreyfus as Vice President Selina
Meyer, who takes over for the president when he resigns, is one
of four shows selected to receive tax credits for relocating
production to California, according to the California Film
Commission.
The panel earmarked $6.5 million in film tax credits to "Veep"
if the show moved to California, according to the commission's
executive director, Amy Lemisch.
"Veep" has been filmed in Maryland for four years, primarily in
Columbia, Baltimore and Sykesville. It received $13.9 million in
tax credits in its first three seasons, said Karen Bell Hood of
Maryland's Department of Business and Economic Development.
In November, Maryland lawmakers proposed ending the tax credits
in 2016. In a report, they said the program was too costly to
taxpayers and that film production brought little economic
benefit.
The report said the state had given $62.5 million in tax credits
to film and television productions since 2012. Of that amount,
$60.2 million had gone to "Veep" and "House of Cards," the
Washington political thriller starring Kevin Spacey and Robin
Wright.
California last year tripled its tax incentive fund for
television and film production to $330 million.
(Reporting by John Clarke in Washington; Editing by Alex
Dobuzinskis and Peter Cooney)
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