In a significant strategic pivot ahead of the 2028 Summer Games, the Los Angeles Olympic Organizing Committee has announced that the International Broadcast Center (IBC) will no longer be centered in Inglewood, moving instead to the newly redeveloped Warner Bros. The Ranch in Burbank. This decision, finalized following a comprehensive review by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Executive Board in June 2024, shifts the primary media operations for the Games from the burgeoning sports district of Hollywood Park to the historic "Media Capital of the World." The transition underscores the logistical complexities of hosting one of the world’s largest sporting events and highlights the organizing committee’s reliance on established, purpose-built entertainment infrastructure to meet the rigorous demands of global broadcasting.
A Strategic Shift in the Master Plan
The relocation represents a departure from the initial plans unveiled in May 2023, which positioned Hollywood Park Studios in Inglewood as the central nervous system for Olympic media coverage. At that time, the LA28 committee, led by chairperson Casey Wasserman, envisioned the IBC as a cornerstone of the 300-acre Hollywood Park development, which already houses SoFi Stadium and the YouTube Theater. However, after a year of evaluation, officials determined that the scale and readiness of the Warner Bros. facilities in Burbank offered a more streamlined path to operational success.
The International Broadcast Center serves as the temporary hub for all Media Rights Holders (MRHs). This includes major global networks such as NBCUniversal, Warner Bros. Discovery, the European Broadcasting Union, and various national broadcasters from around the globe. These entities require massive amounts of climate-controlled space, redundant power grids, and high-speed fiber-optic connectivity to transmit thousands of hours of live footage to an estimated global audience of over 3 billion people. By selecting The Ranch in Burbank, LA28 is tapping into a facility designed specifically for high-end studio production, reducing the need for extensive temporary retrofitting.
The Evolution of Warner Bros. The Ranch
The new site for the IBC is not a standard office complex but a historic studio lot that has recently undergone a massive $500 million transformation. Warner Bros. formally opened the modernized Ranch in March 2024, positioning it as one of the most advanced production facilities in North America. The site, which once served as the backdrop for classic television shows like Bewitched and The Partridge Family, has been razed and rebuilt into a state-of-the-art campus.
Under the agreement with LA28, the Olympic Broadcasting Services (OBS) and media rights holders will have access to 16 soundstages at The Ranch. These facilities provide the necessary ceiling heights and acoustic insulation required for the complex studio sets used by broadcasters. Preparations to transform the campus into the IBC are slated to begin in January 2027, giving the committee and its partners eighteen months to install the specialized technology required for the Games.
Simon Robinson, President of Global Experiences and Studio Operations for Warner Bros. Discovery, emphasized the significance of the selection. "Being confirmed by LA28 affirms the intention behind this world-class campus," Robinson stated. He noted that hosting the IBC is both an honor and a reflection of the studio’s century-long leadership in storytelling and production.
Adjusted Role for Hollywood Park and Inglewood
While Inglewood will no longer host the primary IBC, the city remains a vital component of the LA28 footprint. The organizing committee clarified that Hollywood Park Studios—the facility owned by Los Angeles Rams owner Stan Kroenke—will serve as a supplemental site to support broadcast operations. The Hollywood Park development, situated on 12 acres, is currently slated to include five 18,000-square-foot soundstages.
The decision to move the primary hub to Burbank likely stems from the differing stages of completion and the sheer volume of space required. The IBC is expected to house approximately 8,000 media professionals during the Games. Burbank’s infrastructure, which is already deeply integrated with the global entertainment industry, offers an existing ecosystem of hotels, support services, and technical talent that can absorb such a large influx of personnel.
Shana Ferguson, LA28’s Chief of Sport and Games Delivery Officer, expressed confidence in the Burbank site. "The Ranch will be an incredible home for the International Broadcast Center, offering a purpose-built production campus for Media Rights Holders and Olympic Broadcasting Services to capture and share the defining moments of the LA28 Olympic and Paralympic Games," Ferguson said.
Chronology of the LA28 Media Infrastructure Plan
The journey toward finalizing the broadcast hub has been marked by several key milestones that reflect the evolving needs of the Olympic Games:
- September 2017: Los Angeles is officially awarded the 2028 Summer Games by the IOC.
- May 2023: LA28 announces Hollywood Park in Inglewood as the intended site for the IBC, highlighting the synergy with SoFi Stadium.
- March 2024: Warner Bros. completes its massive redevelopment of The Ranch in Burbank, opening 16 new soundstages.
- June 2024: The IOC Executive Board reviews and approves the proposal to move the IBC from Inglewood to Burbank following technical assessments.
- July 2024: Public confirmation of the move is released, detailing the division of labor between the Burbank and Inglewood sites.
- January 2027: Scheduled commencement of the IBC "fit-out" phase at The Ranch.
- July 2028: The IBC officially opens to support the 8,000 broadcasters covering the Opening Ceremony.
Technical Requirements and Logistical Challenges
The IBC is often described as a "city within a city." During the 17 days of the Olympic Games, it operates 24 hours a day, requiring its own security perimeter, catering facilities, medical clinics, and transport hubs. The move to Burbank presents both advantages and challenges in these areas.
Power and Connectivity: The technical requirements for modern Olympic broadcasting are staggering. The IBC must support 4K and 8K resolution broadcasts, which require massive bandwidth. Burbank, as a hub for Disney, Warner Bros., and several post-production houses, already possesses one of the most robust fiber-optic networks in the world.
Transportation: One of the primary concerns for any Olympic host city is traffic. Burbank is located in the San Fernando Valley, roughly 15 miles north of the main Olympic clusters in Downtown LA and Inglewood. To manage the transit of 8,000 media members, LA28 will need to implement dedicated shuttle lanes and utilize the nearby Hollywood Burbank Airport (BUR) as a primary entry point for international media crews.
Economic Impact: The presence of the IBC is a significant economic driver for the host neighborhood. The 8,000 broadcasters represent a high-spending demographic that will occupy local hotels and utilize local catering and logistics services for several months, including the "bump-in" and "bump-out" periods before and after the Games.
Broader Implications for the 2028 Games Strategy
The relocation of the IBC is indicative of the "radical reuse" and "no-build" philosophy that LA28 has championed since the bidding phase. Unlike previous host cities like Sochi or Rio de Janeiro, which spent billions on new venues that often became "white elephants," Los Angeles is leveraging existing or privately funded developments.
By moving the IBC to a facility that was already being built for the private sector (Warner Bros.), the organizing committee avoids the capital expenditure of building a bespoke broadcast center. This aligns with the IOC’s "Olympic Agenda 2020+5," which encourages host cities to prioritize sustainability and fiscal responsibility.
Furthermore, the move reinforces Burbank’s status as a global media hub. While Inglewood is rapidly becoming the sports capital of Southern California with the addition of the Intuit Dome and SoFi Stadium, Burbank remains the undisputed center for content creation. Splitting these functions allows each city to play to its inherent strengths.
Comparison with Previous International Broadcast Centers
The scale of the LA28 IBC at The Ranch will be comparable to recent Games but with a distinctly Californian flair. In Tokyo 2020 (held in 2021), the IBC was housed in the Tokyo Big Sight, a massive conventional center. For the Paris 2024 Games, the IBC was located at the Parc des Expositions du Bourget.
The LA28 approach differs by using a Hollywood studio lot rather than a convention hall. This provides a more modular environment, as soundstages are designed to be partitioned and customized. It also offers a "backlot" environment that can be used for outdoor studio sets with the iconic Hollywood Hills as a backdrop, providing a visual identity for the Games that is unique to Los Angeles.
As the 2028 Games approach, the organizing committee will continue to refine its venue plan. The move to Burbank is likely one of the final major logistical shifts before the "Games Delivery" phase begins in earnest. With the IBC now anchored at Warner Bros. The Ranch, the stage is literally set for the world’s media to broadcast the return of the Olympics to American soil for the first time in 32 years.
