Study: Pitch Perfect stimulates €31m+ for Germany’s GDP
February 19, 2024
The production of TV series Pitch Perfect: Bumper in Berlin contributed over €31 million to Germany’s GDP (‘Bruttoinlandsprodukt’) according to an economic impact study by Oxford Economics, commissioned by the MPA in cooperation with NBCUniversal and Studio Babelsberg.
The production also created 700 local jobs (full-time and part-time) and supported more than 650 local businesses across all of Germany, especially in the Berlin-Brandenburg region.
According to Oxford Economics, the economic benefits of Pitch Perfect: Bumper in Berlin include:
- Almost €27 million direct production expenditure in Germany.
- 700 local workers employed by the production earned wages of €6.7 million.
- Approximately €20 million was spent with 650 local businesses across Germany that were engaged by the production in particular the Berlin-Brandenburg region.
- Vendors from 14 of Germany’s 16 Länder provided goods or services.
- In total, the production stimulated over €31 million in contribution to Germany’s GDP.
“The production of Season 1 of Pitch Perfect is a great illustration of the significant positive economic impact that the film, television, and streaming industry can have on local economies,” said Stan McCoy, President of the Motion Picture Association in the Europe, Middle East and Africa region. “This report is a timely example of the benefits a country can reap through production incentive programmes as this money goes directly into the German economy and supports local jobs and businesses. With a revamped production incentive, uncapped and internationally competitive, we anticipate significantly larger benefits for the German economy.”
Andy Weltman, CEO Studio Babelsberg, added: “Pitch Perfect: Bumper in Berlin is one of many examples from recent years of how important TV series and streaming productions are for Germany as a production location alongside cinema films. The study impressively shows the positive effects that go far beyond the film production industry. Studio Babelsberg has the infrastructure to facilitate multiple productions at the same time and create thousands of jobs for talented and experienced filmmakers from the region. If the reform of film funding comes into force on January 1, 2025 as planned, we are confident that it will create sustainability and long term growth for the German production industry on a level that has been unachievable in the past. It will be a game-changer.”
“The MPA and Studio Babelsberg study provides tangible results of the impact a production such as ours can have on the local community,” said Jerry DiCanio, EVP, Production Operations, Universal Television. “Working with over 700 locals and 650 vendors in Germany resulted in an authentically Berlin experience and entertaining series. We sincerely hope that we can find pathways for additional productions in Germany in the future.”
Pitch Perfect: Bumper in Berlin is a TV series spin-off of the Pitch Perfect movie franchise featuring one of the characters, Bumper (played by Adam Devine), who moves to Germany to revive his music career after one of his songs becomes big in Berlin. The show is set in Berlin, where it was filmed in 2022 in co-production with Studio Babelsberg. The Universal Television series premiered on Peacock in the US in November 2022. In Germany, the original version of the show is available on Apple TV, Prime Video, freenet Video, maxdome and Google Play.