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42 Doing Business in Connecticut | 2014 Sector Sponsored By: Industry sPOtLIGHt › Film, TV & Digital Media Connecticut's creative talent and know-how powers a sizeable entertainment industry By John A. Lahtinen O ver the years, Connecticut has grown into a prime production location for film and television as well as become home to several digital media industry giants, including ESPN, World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE), Blue Sky Studios and NBC Sports. at cluster of media companies has resulted in robust activity with a measurable impact on the state's economy. An estimated $195 million was spent in Connecticut by film, television and digital media companies during fiscal year 2013, ac- cording to the state Department of Economic Development (DECD). In just the past six years, more than 150 production companies have filmed movies, commercials, television shows and documentaries and spent more than $500 million in the state, according to Connecticut Film and Digital Media Workforce. e result of all that commerce in the digital media and film sector is that an ideal environment has been created for growth that some companies are taking advantage of. For example, Back9 Network, a golf and lifestyle TV network, has selected downtown Hartford as its home, right in between the headquarters of ESPN and NBC Sports. Screen time As director of the DECD's Office of Film, Television and Digital Media, George Norfleet has a front row seat for all the action. Focusing Connecticut's resources on marketing the state as a desirable destination for digital media, film, television and enter- tainment companies to set up shop or engage in production work, Norfleet says filmmakers are always considering Connecticut. "Recently, the film incentive greatly increased the number of studio productions that were shot here," Norfleet said. "Once released, those films are in effect advertisements within the industry that Connecticut has everything that it takes to mount a successful ESPN recently opened its Digital Center 2, a 200,000-square-foot facility that will be home to the cable channel's program, SportsCenter. The crew from Directors Film Co. sets up for a commercial shot on the Yale University campus in New Haven. Film, TV & Digital Media PHOTO/KaTE EiSEmaNN PiCTurES PHOTO/ESPN