Irish independent production company BiggerStage has officially launched a new Global Production Hub at Troy Studios in Limerick. The multi-million euro investment marks a major expansion milestone for the company and strengthens Ireland's infrastructure footprint as a world-class site for international film and television productions.

Minister for Communications, Culture and Sport, Patrick O'Donovan T.D., officially opened the facility alongside various figures from the Irish and international television industry.

The launch follows the recent introduction of Ireland's landmark unscripted tax credit, a first-of-its-kind incentive in Europe. Within months of its implementation, the fiscal measure has enabled BiggerStage to scale up its technical and physical operations at Troy Studios, generating skilled jobs across creative and engineering roles in the Mid-West region. The expansion supports Irish SMEs across the supply chain, and the company has established a major collaboration with the University of Limerick to build educational pathways and skills development.

The company also announced the creation of Format Factory, a new television initiative and incubator dedicated to developing, testing, and piloting original television format intellectual property (IP). Operating out of the Troy Studios hub, Format Factory will combine advanced production infrastructure with emerging technologies to allow content creators to refine new unscripted concepts.

BiggerStage has already utilised the hub to deliver several large-scale US network commissions this year. Completed projects include 99 To Beat with Ken Jeong and Erin Andrews, The Floor with Rob Lowe, and Name That Tune with Jane Krakowski for the FOX Network. The facility is also scheduled to host the upcoming UK version of Name That Tune with Alison Hammond, produced in partnership with ITV Studios for ITV1. Pat Kiely, CEO and Founder of BiggerStage, said: "Thanks to the Irish Government's introduction of a tax credit for unscripted production, the Global Production Hub at Troy Studios is open for business as a centre of excellence for television production. We are in the middle of a really exciting evolution of television across viewing habits, content creation and platform consolidation. Ireland's creative reputation, world-class infrastructure and highly skilled talent means we are spectacularly positioned to capitalise on this shift. The recently introduced unscripted tax incentive, on top of the wider audio visual incentives already in place, will help Ireland compete with any market in the world to attract international players and drive foreign direct investment in this growing sector.

"At the same time, we are committed to investing in the development of original television format IP. The launch of Format Factory is hugely exciting and a great opportunity to bring Ireland's producers, broadcasters and content creators together to make Ireland famous for game-changing, compelling and globally attractive television formats.

"The dividends from these early initiatives are real and already visible. It has resulted in significant job creation nationally, and new local employment opportunities, together with a range of training and development initiatives delivered in partnership with Screen Ireland, Cultural & Creative Industries, Skillnet, Film in Limerick and the National Talent Academies South."

Minister Patrick O'Donovan added: "The launch of The BiggerStage Global Production Hub at Troy Studios will not only attract major international players to Limerick, it illustrates how Ireland has the infrastructure, talent, creativity and production expertise to lead in this space. Ireland's creative industry is on a real high; never has there been a better time to expand our global offering and drive more investment into the development of creative IP, jobs, training, development and infrastructure."

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