Arts body Creative Scotland is to provide funding towards a new American TV series to be filmed in Scotland.
It was announced last week that the US cable network Starz and Sony Pictures Television are to shoot their new programme Outlander on location in Scotland.
As part of that, the production company plans to build a new television studio and production base near Glasgow.
Creative Scotland, the arts body set up by the Scottish Government, is to provide them financial support to contribute towards their shooting and studio costs.
The level of support they will receive is still subject to negotiation but First Minister Alex Salmond said it would help "ensure a lasting legacy from this production".
Creative Scotland is also helping the producers to identify locations and studio space for the series, which is based on a series of novels by Diana Gabaldon which tells the story of a couple who time travel between 18th and 20th century Scotland.
Mr Salmond said in the face of "fierce" competition, staff at the arts body were "doing all they can to ensure that some of the most high-profile screen productions are attracted to Scotland".
The First Minister confirmed the help Creative Scotland is giving during a visit to a new arts hub on Shetland.
He said: "Scotland has always been a popular location for major television and movie productions, with classic films such as Chariots of Fire and Local Hero using our country's iconic scenery as a backdrop to tell some fantastic and memorable stories.
"In recent years, the reputation of Scotland as a movie and TV location has grown, with major productions now attracted not only by the stunning environment, first-class production crews and excellent facilities, but by the whole-hearted support offered by the Scottish Government and its agencies.
"We have huge potential to make Scotland a major centre for film production, but competition is fierce and bodies such as Creative Scotland are doing all they can to ensure that some of the most high-profile screen productions are attracted to Scotland, bringing industry jobs and securing incredible, money-can't-buy exposure for our breathtaking scenery."
He added: "As a sci-fi fan, I am particularly thrilled that the time-travel drama Outlander has been brought to Scotland, supported by Creative Scotland expertise and funding to contribute to shooting and studio costs and ensure a lasting legacy from this production in Scotland in terms of skills and studio production.
"This announcement, which could see a crew of around 200 assembled and an estimated spend of £20 million in Scotland, is a wonderful endorsement of the scenery, talent and facilities on offer to film crews in this country, and I can't wait to see some distinctly Scottish locations on screen.
"With huge movies such as Skyfall and World War Z and fabulous TV drama such as Shetland already shot here, Scotland is poised to become a major location for TV and film production.
"My government and its agencies are absolutely committed to ensuring that we do all we can to attract the very best drama and keep Scotland firmly in focus when it comes to film production."
The filming of Outlander is expected to run for about 38 weeks during 2013-14. As well as employing a local crew of about 200, an estimated 2,400 supporting roles are expected to be cast from within Scotland and the rest of the UK during the filming of the series.
Scottish actor Sam Heughan, who studied at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama in Glasgow and who has starred in the TV show Doctors, has already been cast in the lead role.
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