2010Legal / Business Practices forum
Declining camera operator rates in New York television production market
16 years old. Gear and prices may have changed since.
What the thread found
- Major networks like NBC and CBS typically pay around $2000 per day plus $600 for an assistant camera for show lead-ins and wraps
- Non-union operators in New York have reported being undercut by competitors willing to work for rates below $300 per day for full-day assignments
- Production companies have been known to offer $500 flat for half-day work with major network talent, which experienced operators consider unacceptably low
- Lower rates are being offered even for positions requiring extensive experience and references, which contributes to market-wide rate pressure
- Young non-union operators trying to build experience and reels face difficulty competing when established operators accept significantly reduced rates
Depends on
- Discussion is specific to New York market in 2010
- Rates mentioned reflect non-union and union baseline only; actual rates vary by production type and individual negotiation
- Some participants suggested low-bidding producers may lack experience and understanding of industry standards rather than deliberately undercutting
- The extent to which rate-cutting actually displaced established operators is based on participant anecdotes rather than systematic data