Discovery Renew Lease At Chiswick Business Park

Fears of Brexit-led contraction of presence allayed

Discovery Communications has countered fears that it would be shrinking the size of its European Headquarter in Chiswick by agreeing to a new long term lease.

They have signed a contract to occupy over 100,000 sq ft in the local office development where they are currently based. The company took full occupation of Building 2 in the Chiswick Park Development in 2005 and the size of the new lease does not suggest there has been any contraction in the company’s operation at the site since then. Discovery employ over 1,300 people in the UK.

‘We are committed to giving our guests the workspaces they need to be at their best and enhance their productivity. The success of our guest companies is our success. Discovery is a prime example of the strong business relationship built over the last 14 years. We look forward to continuing this journey together at Chiswick Park,’ said Matt Coulson, CEO Chiswick Park Enjoy-Work.

There were concerns raised last year when the company closed a broadcast facility based in Chiswick and moved it to the US. Discovery denied that it was a result of concerns about Brexit saying the move was technology driven.

They are the biggest broadcaster to use the UK as a hub to broadcast to the continent. Over 100 channels are transmitted across Europe from its Chiswick base, including Animal Planet and Eurosport, They hold their broadcast licences through the UK regulator OFCOM and these allow them to transmit to other countries within the EU. However, it is not clear whether any Brexit deal will allow this arrangement to continue and it was thought that Discovery may have needed to move more of its operation to bases in the Netherlands or Poland if the regulatory environment becomes more restrictive for broadcasting from the UK.

The industry press say that Discovery are looking to develop the Chiswick location as a hub for sport and live broadcasting.

Chiswick Business Park is home to some of the world’s leading companies including QVC, Pernod Ricard, IMG, Starbucks, CBS, Paramount, Danone and Sony.

January 29, 2019