BiggerStage, the Irish independent production company founded by broadcast veteran Pat Kiely, has entered into multimillion-dollar, multiyear agreements with Hackman Capital Partners’ Troy Studios and The MBS Group to establish a global hub for unscripted television production in County Limerick.

The initiative will be anchored at Troy Studios, Ireland’s largest studio facility, which spans 26 acres and includes four soundstages totaling approximately 100,000 square feet, with an overall footprint of roughly 350,000 square feet. Under the agreement, BiggerStage and Troy Studios will jointly invest in attracting major international unscripted formats to Ireland, with BiggerStage producing locally while also supporting training and skills development for Irish crews.

The partners said Troy Studios will also serve as a base for original IP development, positioning the facility as a destination where new global formats can be piloted at scale. Multiple pilot projects for international partners are expected to begin in 2026, alongside BiggerStage’s expanding original slate.

Ireland has seen strong growth in international television production over the past several years, supporting dozens of small and midsize enterprises and generating hundreds of skilled jobs. Since launching in 2021, BiggerStage has produced more than 250 hours of primetime programming in the country, including The Floor, Next Level Chef, Beat Shazam, Name That Tune and Don’t Forget the Lyrics. The company’s model emphasizes cost-efficient, EU-based production, bolstered by Ireland’s common travel area with the U.K. and the country’s recently introduced unscripted tax incentive.

Speaking from the Prime Time production conference in Canada, BiggerStage CEO and founder Pat Kiely described the partnership as a significant step in scaling Ireland’s role in global unscripted television.

“This investment in Troy Studios allows us to offer a world-class base for international production,” Kiely said, citing Ireland’s crews, infrastructure and expanding training ecosystem as key advantages.

The announcement comes as Hackman Capital continues to emphasize the geographic diversity of its global studio portfolio. In recent weeks, the company has been navigating challenges tied to the Radford Studio Center in Los Angeles, underscoring the uneven recovery of U.S. production volumes since 2022. Hackman has previously noted that more than half of its studio assets are located outside the United States, a strategy that has allowed the firm to continue expanding in international markets where production activity remains comparatively strong.

Ireland’s Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport Patrick O’Donovan welcomed the Troy Studios partnership, calling it further evidence of Ireland’s competitiveness in the global production landscape.

Elaine Geraghty, managing director of Troy Studios, added that the BiggerStage agreement reinforces Limerick’s position as a destination for international unscripted production.

“Together, we’re building a global production hub that will generate employment, support the creative sector and deliver premium content for audiences worldwide,” she said.