Place

CBS Television City

Built in 1952, CBS Television City was one of the first and largest complexes built expressly for television production and broadcasting.

Active

In the early 1950s, Los Angeles was just entering the height of its power as the capital of television broadcasting, but intentions to become the capital of television broadcasting were made clear by the construction of Columbia Broadcasting Systems’ (CBS) Television City in 1952.

Address

7800 Beverly Boulevard,
Los Angeles, California 90036
Get directions

Website

televisioncityla.com

Architects

Year

1952

Style

Corporate International

Decade

1950s

Designation

Overview

On September 12 (at 8:30a.m.), the proposed project is set to go before the City Planning Commission for a public hearing.

In the early 1950s, Los Angeles was just entering the height of its power as the capital of television broadcasting, but its intentions were made clear by the construction of Columbia Broadcasting Systems’ (CBS) Television City in 1952 at the southeast corner of Beverly Boulevard and Fairfax Avenue.

Built on a portion of Rancho San Rafael that once contained an oil field, then a football field and racetrack, Television City was one of the first and largest complexes built expressly for television production and broadcasting. CBS hired the prolific local architecture firm, Pereira & Luckman, to design its new headquarters, which contained soundstages, studios, editing rooms, offices, rehearsal halls, shops, and storage. Among the architects on the Pereira & Luckman project team were acclaimed architects, Gin Wong, James Langenheim, and Charles Stanton. On the interior, flexibility was key: studio walls, and even some exterior walls, could be moved and rearranged to accommodate the needs of specific productions.

The result is a stark International Style design of flat-roofed rectangular volumes with either glass or unornamented stucco walls, all in dramatic black and white with bright red accents.

For more than six decades and counting it has been the portal by which some of America’s most beloved television shows have been produced. From within its modern and custom-designed stages, television broke new ground, from variety/sketch comedy television shows like The Carol Burnett Show to the life of Archie Bunker and the controversial issues of the day in All in the Family. The Price Is Right was filmed at Television City until 2023. If you drive by at the right time of day, you’ll see costumed hopefuls waiting in line for their chance to win cash and prizes.

On May 15, 2024, the Conservancy provided public comments in support of the proposed project:

In 2018, the Conservancy previously led an effort to have the 1952 Television City production studio designated as a Historic-Cultural Monument, and for this historic place to be honored and protected.

As part of this proposed project, our primary goal has been to preserve Television City and ensure its iconic stature and presence along Beverly Boulevard remains while still allowing for compatible change and new, surrounding development internally on this site.

Early on, the Conservancy began meeting with Hackman Capital Partners to discuss ways to improve the project and address preservation priorities, with the shared goal of maintaining Television City’s continued use as a legacy production studio.

Following nearly a year of collaboration and discussions, a revised “win-win” plan came forward in mid-2022 that significantly reworked a previous design concept initially released publicly in 2021. Earlier this year, additional meaningful modifications have been made to this design that further improves this project and ensures greater compatibility with historic Television City.

This ensures the studio’s much-needed modernization while protecting this historic building and maintaining eligibility as a City of Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument. The Los Angeles Conservancy thanks Hackman Capital Partners for not only listening, but working hard with us to achieve a balance, therefore we offer our strong support, and urge the same from the City.

If you are interested in seeing CBS Television City in 1953 and the excitement about its opening, check out this short film narrated by none other than Edward R. Murrow. Courtesy of Vintage LA.

About This Place

Thanks to the effort of The Conservancy and in collaboration with Hackman Capital Partners, a refined plan will preserve historic TVC while allowing for significant new development at this legendary studio property: a comprehensive framework for a state-of-the-art modernization will preserve the historic complex and maintain the 430- foot Beverly Boulevard view shed.

In March 2021, Hackman Capital Partners announced plans to reinvest and build new stages and offices throughout the 25-acre property. In June 2018, it was designated a Historic-Cultural Monument (HCM).

This proposed project has progressed through the City Planning Commission and will next go to the Planning and Land Use Management (PLUM) Committee. The Conservancy will remain involved and ultimately be a part of the formal review process regarding the design and materiality of the proposed new construction. The Conservancy’s goal has been to preserve TVC, though not freezing it in time, but kept in a way where new development does not fundamentally harm this conic L.A. landmark.

While The Conservancy supports density and is glad to see reinvestment and job creation, we had serious concerns about where the density was being placed in the initial plan for proposed new construction at CBS Television City and how it would impact the historic studio building. The expansion project at the time included a multi-story building directly on top of the historic landmark. Now, thanks to our efforts, a refined plan is in place to preserve this location’s legacy.

CBS Television City in 1955. Image courtesy Security Pacific National Bank Collection/Los Angeles Public Library | Security Pacific National Bank Collection/Los Angeles Public Library

Get Involved

In 2022, the City of Los Angeles released its Draft Environmental Impact Report (EIR) on the TVC 2050 Specific Plan. Comments were submitted to:

Paul Caporaso
City of Los Angeles, Department of City Planning
221 N. Figueroa Street, Suite 1350
Los Angeles, CA 90012
Email: paul.caporaso@lacity.org
Phone: (213) 847-3629

Take Action Now

Blog Feature

A Win-Win for Television City

The Conservancy and Hackman Capital Partners, owner of TVC, jointly announced a new, revised plan and win-win solution that provides a balance for preservation and new development at the site.

Curating the City

Modern Architecture in L.A.

From the transformation of downtown’s Bunker Hill to 1970s and ’80s gems in Venice, Curating the City: Modern Architecture in L.A. highlights our unparalleled Modern legacy and the need to preserve it for future generations.

September 12, 2024

The City Planning Commission recommended approval of the TVC 2050 Specific Plan project. The latest version on the project includes a reduced project scope from what was initially proposed and includes a public benefit agreement to address some community concerns.

July 14, 2022

On July 14, 2022, the City of Los Angeles Released the Draft Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for the TVC 2050 Specific Plan. Public comments for the Plan are due no later than 4:00 p.m. on September 13. You can review the Draft EIR on the City’s Planning website.

July 20, 2021

A public scoping meeting for the proposed project was held on Tuesday, July 20. Public comments regarding the proposed project were due by August 2, 2021 (4 p.m.) by mail and/or mail these to Paul Caporaso at Los Angeles Department of City Planning at 221 North Figueroa Street, Suite 1350, Los Angeles, CA 90012 and paul.caporaso@lacity.org. The Conservancy submitted the following comments.

March 26, 2021

On March 26, 2021, plans were revealed for a $1.25-billion overhaul to historic CBS Television City (1952) in the Fairfax District. The Conservancy, which initiated and worked very closely with CBS on the studio’s Historic-Cultural Monument (HCM) designation in 2018, has long-anticipated new development on the parcels around the historic building. While we support density and are glad to see reinvestment and job creation, we have serious concerns about where the density is being placed in the proposed new construction and how it will impact the ...

As envisioned at the time, a new multi-story building was to be built directly on top of the HCM-designated historic studio building. Looming large over CBS Television City, we believed this to be incompatible and to potentially jeopardize its historic status.

Hackman Capital is seeking a specific plan approval (along with other approvals, including a General Plan amendment) for office expansion and new studio spaces, initially proposed for between 15 to 21 studios.

June 2018

In 2018, CBS Corp. sold its 25-acre Television City property, to Hackman Capital Partners for a reported $750 million. In June 2018, the Conservancy successfully nominated and listed the studio as a Historic-Cultural Monument (HCM). Previously the Conservancy worked with this owner and their consultant team on the Culver Studios project.

As contemplated as part of the HCM process, there will be the opportunity for portions (not covered by the HCM) of the large site to be redeveloped. The HCM designation will help guide future development ...

The Conservancy worked very closely with CBS on the HCM nomination, and their leadership came out in full support. Thank you to all who supported this effort, especially former Councilmember David Ryu at the time.

December 2017

In December 2017, the Conservancy submitted the nomination to designate the storied CBS Television City complex as a Historic-Cultural Monument (HCM) following news in September that CBS Corporation was potentially interested in marketing the 25-acre property. The announcement of a potential sale had raised widespread concern over the fate of the architecturally and culturally significant campus, which was identified as National Register-eligible in Los Angeles’ SurveyLA.