The Phoenix-based production and broadcasting studio used by a popular host known for the latest news on everything digital — including technology, and security threats and scams — is for sale.
That is not to say she is ceasing operations. To the contrary, it is a rightsizing of operations in COVID-19 times.
WestStar MultiMedia Entertainment Inc. has retained Cushman & Wakefield to sell a production and broadcast studio located at 6135 North 7th Street in Phoenix.
That’s just north of Bethany Home Road, between the 51 Freeway and N Central Ave. in Central Phoenix.
And, it is the current location of the Kim Komando Show.
The facility is being marketed as a “best in class turnkey sound stage/audio/video” studio that has been used as WestStar MultiMedia Entertainment’s flagship location.
According to WestStar, the facilities offer “true ‘plug and play’ capability” ideal for content creators, influencer marketing, webinars, podcasting, and video streaming.
The facility size is roughly 24,000 square feet, and will become fully available — signaling a shift for The Kim Komando Show.
As of today, The Kim Komando Show is a three-hour weekly radio show airing on over 400 stations across the U.S. Tapings are each Friday. She also hosts The Kim Komando Television Show, airing 3pm Eastern/9pm CET each Saturday on Bloomberg Television across the globe.
The price sought by WestStar for the Central Phoenix facility: $13 million.
Komando and her husband, Phoenix radio personality Barry Young, built their first studio in 1994. They now operate WestStar MultiMedia Entertainment, and would directly see the profits from the facility sale.
Would this sale signal a possible end to Komando’s show? Don’t count on it.
“When COVID hit, I had staffers move all across the country and so we obviously don’t need 24,000 square feet when everyone is working from home,” Komando tells RBR+TVBR. “Productivity it up, and earnings are up 25% from last year. We are half sold out for next year, so it is hard for me to ask for everyone to come back.”
And, with the start of another radio show, the best-case scenario is for a lease-back arrangement. If not, “I am prepared to build a smaller studio footprint in the Phoenix area,” she says.
Komando adds that he’s thought about this for a year, and even considered a Monday/Wednesday/Friday work environment. But, the staff wasn’t happy. And, Komando responded.
“The pandemic changed a lot of things, and my staff pivoted to home,” she says.
Meanwhile, Komando is presently in Santa Barbara, Calif., where she is mourning the loss of her mother. Komando maintains a home there, in addition to residences in Beverly Hills, Calif., and in Phoenix.
Interested parties may contact Joshua Deale at Cushman & Wakefield by e-mail at [email protected]
