Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD), one of the world’s leading global media and entertainment companies, announced today its plans to partner with UNLV and Birtcher Development through a long-term commitment to lease, operate and fully occupy Nevada Studios – the centerpiece of a film studio tax credit legislative proposal that seeks to establish film and TV studio infrastructure and workforce development programs at UNLV’s Harry Reid Research & Technology Park in Las Vegas.
The new partnership is contingent on the outcome of the legislative proposal, which was initially introduced by State Senator Roberta Lange during the 2023 legislative session and is expected to be reintroduced at the next regular session of the Nevada State Legislature when it convenes in February 2025.
Nevada Studios, which will be renamed “Warner Bros. Studios Nevada,” will serve as the primary studio complex of the proposed 34-acre campus and will feature full-service film and television studios and other facilities designed to capitalize on emerging technologies related to WBD’s content creation.
A cornerstone of the partnership is the planned Nevada Media and Technology Lab, a production and immersive learning facility that will provide both space and industry engagement opportunities for the UNLV film department and other academic departments at the university. The partnership with WBD will allow space to support vocational training, internship experiences, and research and workforce development opportunities for both K-12 and higher education partners throughout Nevada.
Representatives from JLL – a leading global commercial real estate and investment management company – are acting as representatives on behalf of Warner Bros. Discovery on this transaction.
Comments from Project Collaborators
“Warner Bros. Discovery is one of the largest producers of scripted and unscripted film and television content in the world spanning general entertainment, animation, lifestyle and nonfiction. In addition to our best-in-class studios in Burbank, CA and Leavesden, UK, Warner Bros. Studios Nevada represents a great opportunity to further expand our facilities to accommodate these productions and more in the future. We are fully committed and excited about the potential of a long-term partnership and presence in Nevada and are confident it will be a win/win for the State of Nevada, the Las Vegas community and WBD as we look ahead to our next 100 years of exceptional storytelling.”
Simon Robinson, Chief Operating Officer of Warner Bros. Studios.
“When talking with citizens we hear repeatedly that we need to further diversify our southern Nevada economy and at the same time commit the resources to develop our workforce. These are top priorities for us all, and I can proudly say my legislation accomplishes both. It’s safe to say that having a lead partner with the depth of Warner Bros. and its ability to keep the studios full starting from day one is a key difference maker and enables us to successfully meet these two priorities.”
Roberta Lange, Nevada State Senator and author of SB 496 from the 2023 legislative session and the primary sponsor of the bill in 2025.
“We are excited to welcome Warner Bros. Discovery to our campus and to our partnership. Together, we can help develop the next generation of filmmakers and storytellers, while reaching new heights in training a young workforce, engaging students of all ages in content creation, and enabling UNLV to become synonymous with other leading film schools across the nation. This is a big moment for UNLV and the State of Nevada.”
Keith E. Whitfield, Ph.D, UNLV President
“Once the law goes into effect, Warner Bros. Studios Nevada will make southern Nevada the newest international film and TV production hub that fits hand in glove with fulfilling the need to significantly diversify the Nevada economy and train the talent of tomorrow.”
Brooke Birtcher Gustafson, President of Birtcher Development
About Warner Bros. Discovery
Warner Bros. Discovery is a leading global media and entertainment company that creates and distributes the world’s most differentiated and complete portfolio of branded content across television, film, streaming and gaming. Available in more than 220 countries and territories and 50 languages, Warner Bros. Discovery inspires, informs and entertains audiences worldwide through its iconic brands and products including: Discovery Channel, Max, discovery+, CNN, DC, TNT Sports, Eurosport, HBO, HGTV, Food Network, OWN, Investigation Discovery, TLC, Magnolia Network, TNT, TBS, truTV, Travel Channel, MotorTrend, Animal Planet, Science Channel, Warner Bros. Motion Picture Group, Warner Bros. Television Group, Warner Bros. Pictures Animation, Warner Bros. Games, New Line Cinema, Cartoon Network, Adult Swim, Turner Classic Movies, Discovery en Español, Hogar de HGTV and others. For more information, please visit www.wbd.com.
About The UNLV Harry Reid Research & Technology Park
The UNLV Harry Reid Research & Technology Park is located on 122 acres in the fast-growing southwestern part of the Las Vegas valley. Recently named the region’s “most catalytic place” by the Urban Land Institute Nevada, the park serves as a high-tech home for innovation and collaboration between university and private industry in support of a diverse and thriving Southern Nevada economy.
About Birtcher Development
Newport Beach, California-based Birtcher Development LLC is a fifth generation, family-owned real estate company founded in 1939. Since its inception, Birtcher has acquired, managed, or developed more than 65 million square feet as a result of more than 260 projects valued in excess of $7 billion dollars. Bitcher has a history of developing specialty use projects such as the headquarters for the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences in North Hollywood, the headquarters for the interior design industry at the Pacific Design Center in West Hollywood, and the Los Angeles Wholesale Produce Market in Los Angeles, to name a few. In additional to developing projects with a specialty industry focus, the company develops logistics warehouse facilities similar to the 4-million square foot Amazon campus in Eastvale, California. Learn more at www.birtcher.com
About JLL
For over 200 years, JLL, a leading global commercial real estate and investment management company, has helped clients buy, build, occupy, manage and invest in a variety of commercial, industrial, hotel, residential and retail properties. A Fortune 500 company with annual revenue of $20.8 billion and operations in over 80 countries around the world, our more than 110,000 employees bring the power of a global platform combined with local expertise. Driven by our purpose to shape the future of real estate for a better world, we help our clients, people and communities see a brighter way. JLL is the brand name, and a registered trademark, of Jones Lang LaSalle Incorporated. For further information, visit jll.com.
