Olympics: Warner Bros. Discovery Goes Big on Paris Games Coverage, Launches Splashy Rooftop Production Hub

As a film enthusiast and someone who has followed the Olympics avidly for decades, I am absolutely thrilled to hear about Warner Bros. Discovery‘s innovative approach to covering the Paris 2024 games. The unveiling of their state-of-the-art WBD House production hub is truly a game-changer in Olympic coverage.


Warner Bros. Discovery will create a vibrant outdoor production center in Paris for covering the 2024 Olympics, featuring breathtaking views and generous studio areas. This is where the combined media company will make its debut at the Games.

As a movie enthusiast, I’m thrilled to share that I’ve discovered a new film production gem in Paris. Known as WBD House, it sits majestically atop the Hotel Raphaël – a prestigious five-star retreat located near the Champs Élysées, which you might remember from the 2022 HBO miniseries “Irma Vep.” This rooftop facility is a significant addition to our filmmaking landscape.

At the Olympics venue on the night before the opening ceremony, WBD Sports executive Scott Young expressed that providing a more engaging storytelling experience is the most groundbreaking method to let viewers fully appreciate the Olympics. After witnessing how Paris 2024’s organizing committee utilized the city’s breathtaking sceneries as competition sites, we were compelled to replicate their approach.

Having a workforce of 190 on-site technicians, we can take advantage of the four-studio configuration for more versatility. This setup enables various shows from distinct markets to utilize the same sets, followed by effortlessly changing backdrops daily.

At the WBD House hub, we’ll combine high-quality facilities with convenience. This central location will serve as the headquarters for Eurosport, WBD’s pay-TV group, and will secure CNN’s position in Paris. By offering a one-stop-shop, commentators can easily travel between locations or relax in a lounge if they prefer to stay put.

An athlete or VIP guest can visit up to seven or eight different markets by walking across this rooftop, according to Young. This means they can avoid getting back in a car and traveling to each location separately. Instead, they can visit the United Kingdom, Sweden, Italy, France, Germany, CNN, and Norway in quick succession, before exiting the building once more. The ability to efficiently access multiple markets is a significant advantage that we’ve created here.

WBD’s Eurosport pay-TV channel guarantees comprehensive live coverage of upcoming games, with a total of 3,800 hours dedicated to all 329 medal events. Every Olympic sport will have its own dedicated page on Max or Discovery+, depending on the region. The service will be available in 47 markets and will offer broadcasts in 19 different languages.

Olympics: Warner Bros. Discovery Goes Big on Paris Games Coverage, Launches Splashy Rooftop Production Hub

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2024-07-25 21:46