ViacomCBS Selling CBS Studio Center for $1.85 Billion

November 30, 2021 Kristin Brzoznowski Top Stories
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ViacomCBS has entered into an agreement to sell CBS Studio Center and its associated operating business to a partnership formed by Hackman Capital Partners and Square Mile Capital Management for $1.85 billion.

The CBS Studio Center property sits on a 55-gross-acre site in Studio City and consists of over 1 million square feet of space, including 22 stages, production office and support buildings, third-party tenant offices, a purpose-built broadcast center and filmable backlot locations.

The transaction is expected to close in 2021, subject to customary closing conditions, including regulatory approval.

At closing, CBS Broadcasting will enter into a long-term lease-back of the Broadcast Center, which is home to the CBS 2 and KCAL 9 stations. ViacomCBS will continue to occupy stages and produce content on the lot, as well as enter into a short-term lease-back of certain portions of the property in order to manage the transition of ViacomCBS employees to other locations.

“This sale is part of an ongoing optimization of ViacomCBS’s real estate and operations portfolio and will allow the company to redeploy capital to strategic growth priorities, including streaming,” said Naveen Chopra, executive VP and chief financial officer at ViacomCBS.

“We’re honored to have been selected as the new stewards of CBS Studio Center, one of the most celebrated and successful studios in Los Angeles,” said Michael Hackman, founder and CEO of Hackman Capital Partners. “The studio has been a hitmaker from the days of Gunsmoke, Mary Tyler Moore and Seinfeld, and we’re thrilled to continue our ongoing relationship with ViacomCBS to service its many successful shows currently filmed on the lot.”

“CBS Studio Center is an iconic property that has been home to many of television’s legendary programs over the years,” said Craig Solomon, CEO of Square Mile Capital. “With ViacomCBS maintaining an important presence at the property, we anticipate a smooth ownership transition and many more great years ahead.”