Consell and Euronews plan a long-term home in Alicante’s Ciudad de la Luz
A formal arrangement is advancing between the Consell and the Euronews television channel to establish a new editorial hub inside the City of Light complex. During a meeting in Lisbon with Pedro Vargas, chief executive of Alpac Capital and owner of Euronews, the Generalitat highlighted that the final agreement is likely to be signed before the summer. As discussions continue, some bureaucratic steps and contractual matters remain to be resolved, with the Valencian Administration expressing willingness to underwrite a portion of the costs required to adapt facilities for audiovisual use.
The regional leadership, presently on a corporate visit to Portugal, noted Euronews’s preference for Alicante as the site for its southern European headquarters. This move is framed as a strategic push to strengthen the Valencian Community’s tourism and economic position within the international landscape.
Gen Generalitat sources indicate the goal is a long-term stay for Euronews in the audio-visual complex of Ciudad de la Luz. While the exact building has not been finalized, Building 1 of the Digital District, particularly the area known as the Crystal Room, is among the most considered options.
The Digital District would host Euronews headquarters at a cost of three million euros to the Consell
Analyses conducted under the oversight of KPMG suggest that Euronews’s presence in Ciudad de la Luz would boost tourism and attract investment to the Valencian Community, energizing the local audiovisual sector. Projections indicate the project could create about 6,000 jobs, with around 330 positioned in the city of Alicante, and generate roughly 250 million euros in economic activity, including a direct impact of about 15 million euros in the capital. These figures reflect the anticipated multiplier effect on the regional economy.
Talks about Euronews relocating to Ciudad de la Luz have been underway for months. In 2022, the Generalitat earmarked three million euros in regional budgets to cover potential costs. Euronews is widely regarded as Europe’s leading international news channel, with a presence in roughly 400 million households across 160 countries, according to information published by the broadcaster itself.
Brussels lifts restrictions on Ciudad de la Luz and the Consell regains full control
The agreement gained momentum after the European Commission removed the limits previously placed on Ciudad de la Luz. From July 1, the Generalitat will assume full governance over the complex, enabling resumed activity and a renewed roadmap for the site. The Commission’s decision permits the Consell to steer the facilities back toward their original purposes, including hosting audiovisual and film productions. The Generalitat, which owns the studios through the Thematic Projects Society (SPTCV), envisions a return to shooting within Europe’s most advanced studio complex by year-end. The initial restrictions and penalties tied to public funding for the studios are being resolved, paving the way for a robust relaunch of operations and a renewed commitment to European cinema and media production in the region.