Live from Paris 2024: WBD uncovers the monumental undertaking involved in creating its rooftop studios

Bugs Bunny and Lola visit WBD House to show off their Olympic medals

Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) is out in strength for Paris 2024 at WBD House, its rooftop base of multiple studios and stand-up positions in the centre of the city. The creation of the studio centre has taken two years of planning, and the result is impressive.

Speaking to SVG Europe in blazing sunshine in Studio 1 at WBD House, Scott Young, SVP of content and production at WBD, says: “Going back to the very beginning, when the committee said to us that the mission for their Games was to put as many sports inside the centre of Paris, we took that idea and asked: what does that mean for Warner Brothers Discovery? How do we then broadcast from the centre of Paris? How do we get above the rooftops and see some of the most famous landmarks in the world, like the Eiffel Tower, and Arc de Triomphe, and how do we then adapt that to the Eurosport model of broadcasting, which is extremely unique?”

WBD wanted to ensure that all 47 rights territories – 11 of which can create their own programming from start to finish each day – and 19 languages, could come together in one location and each get a strong flavour of the city of Paris, the atmosphere of the Games, and to, “create a family environment and a work environment that people want to come to every day across what is – always – a long haul,” Young states.

He goes on: “Nineteen days is an endurance on any Olympics, but we’ve created an environment here where audiences feel like they’re getting the very best stories of the Games. WBD House is really turned into an environment where we can amplify the story of the Games through the eyes of the athletes, through the content that’s being made, through every sport that’s being produced, that’s available on streaming.”

Scott Young, SVP of content and production at WBD on the rooftop of WBD House

Inspiring view

WBD identified the infamous Hotel Raphaël – a five-star luxurious pad a couple of minutes walk from the Arc de Triomphe – as its rooftop location for the Games in October 2021. Chosen for its stunning 360-degree views of Paris, it became the inspiration for the layout of studios and stand-up positions that are bringing Paris 2024 to the world.

To construct the studios themselves, WBD had to remove the hotel’s roof garden, which Young says was, “76 tonnes, equivalent to the weight of the space shuttle”. Trees, soil and plant pots were removed, while 42 tonnes in weight was then added over a series of 316 crane lifts as the studios were constructed. The process took four days.

Comments Young: “Technically we’ve done something that means genuinely people walk out [the lift] and are blown away by it. But to turn this into a home was where I was very focused, because we could build studios and I had no doubt we would build studios that would look spectacular, but how do we build a content house that people wanted to come to and share their story? We want our presenters to come here every day with a massive smile on their faces and want to be broadcasting all across Europe.

Continues Young: “One person’s idea needs hundreds and hundreds of people to become a reality. And some of the smartest production people, engineers, technicians, designers, and creators, have come together in a project over two years to make this a reality. Because it’s one thing to have an idea, it’s another thing to have a team of people who will go with you on a journey to deliver what has turned into being WBD House.”

Studio 1 at WBD house has stunning views of the Eiffel Tower

Monumental undertaking

The Games is now just over halfway through and Young is pleased with the crew’s output so far. However, he says there is still a long way to go.

“It’s going really well,” says Young. “We’re not done yet, so I’m a long way off resting any of our laurels. We are into the second week, and we’re into the athletics, which always makes you feel like the games have definitely genuinely started when the athletics and track and field gets going, but what we have achieved to date has been spectacular. It feels like the mission has really come alive.”

WBD House had already hosted 55 gold medallists on the rooftop at the time SVG Europe spoke to Young, and as we left the building, a further bevvy of medallists took the lift upstairs to share their emotions with viewers at home.

Young notes: “I’m also very proud of the team for what we envisaged and what we delivered. It’s a monumental undertaking, and the fact that everybody comes to work every day with a smile on their face enjoying it, makes me feel like it’s a very privileged team to be a part of.

“I think that the medal tally of 55 gold, 24 silver, 49 bronze, and other athletes that have been here that haven’t medalled, that to me is a testament that this has worked, because people are talking about it outside of this environment. The athletes are talking to each other, going, this is a nice place to hang out. They feel welcome, our staff welcome them, and we line up here and applaud their success as they come through. That to me is a success.”

He concludes: “The technology piece I was never too worried about because we’ve got very clever people who work for us,” he continues. “It was really about how we then flipped it into being a place that everybody wanted to come to, and stay, and repeat business, and go from the Opening Ceremony, which is when we first broadcast here on the 26th, all the way through to closing.”

The first show starts at WBD House in Paris at 7.00am, and the last finishes at 11.30pm