The Generalitat Valenciana announced that the MBS Group, a multinational with projects spanning Avatar 2 and The Mandalorian, will manage the Ciudad de la Luz audiovisual complex. The contract values the management at 3,100,000 euros before value added tax for a five-year term, with a 6.5 percent marketing contribution allocated to the community. Beginning today, a 15-business-day window will open for claims and observations.
The company, which operates 220 studios with 90 currently in development around the world, was selected from six proposals to take over the complex. In December, the steering committee of the Society Projects for Digital Transformation gave its approval for this assignment. In the broader evaluation, Roots Asset Management SL-Drago led the ranking, followed by Broadcast Services SL (Secuoya of Spain), Consulting Navarro Norte SL, Stage Fifty LTD, UTE Nueva Gestión Ciudad de la Luz, and Mediaproducto SLU. The award appears in documentation prior to its formalization.
Although BBS Group submitted the lowest bid among participants, the competition’s budget stood at 3,824,152.60 euros before tax. The offer included a 6.5 percent marketing share, above the regional average of six percent and potentially reaching up to seven and a half percent.
Minister of Innovation, Industry, Trade and Tourism, Nuria Montes, highlighted the significance of bringing an international partner to develop the Alicante works. Montes noted that MBS Group’s proposal aligns with the Generalitat’s objectives to position the Valencian Community as a reference hub in audiovisual activity. The goal is to foster a development strategy that strengthens the local and national audiovisual ecosystem.
To this end, MBS Group management recommends a program that includes hosting own events and advancing digitalization and innovation to bolster internationalization of studios. The plan also emphasizes attracting local talent and companies.
“Avatar” is seen as a step toward asserting leadership in Ciudad de la Luz. The councilor underscored the importance of weaving the Valencian Community’s productive fabric into the project. This is viewed as an opportunity for internationalization and diversification for small and medium-sized enterprises. The proposal offers regional firms the chance to integrate and apply cutting-edge technology to develop work that attracts investment and spurs innovation in both Spain and global networks. The initiative cites more than 80 training campuses and over 600 stages across the world as part of the expansion footprint, according to the Ministry of Innovation.
The project includes a training program for more than 300 jobs, emphasizing a structured training path and 600 hours of internships. It also features international programs such as the Lighting, Production or Changing Lenses Programme, Make It Here, and Degenham Film Banking.
MBS Group is recognized for achieving high marks in the revitalization plan. The proposal supports the local and national audiovisual industry, enhances the educational offering, and optimizes the productive structure. The plan also integrates ecological equipment that aligns with environmental efficiency and sustainability goals.
From the global projects linked to Ciudad de la Luz, the company behind Avatar, The Mandalorian, and other major productions is positioned to influence the city’s trajectory. The partnerships reflect a broad effort to elevate Ciudad de la Luz as a global hub for film and television production.
Within the context of the area’s development, MBS Group operates an extensive real estate and studio network totaling 220 sites worldwide. The group manages studios on a global scale and is part of a larger ecosystem of production services led by Hackman Capital Partners, established in 1986 with a base in Los Angeles. This network positions MBS as a leading player in the studio and equipment services market across the United States, Canada, Ireland, the United Kingdom, and Scotland.
The group’s own studio footprint spans about 900,000 square meters. It employs more than 1,400 people and supports production technology valued at over a billion dollars. Notable projects in their portfolio include major franchises and productions such as The Mandalorian, Alien, Avatar, and other blockbuster projects that have contributed to Ciudad de la Luz’s reputation and access to high-profile international productions.