Playboy Entertainment moving to Glendale area

Karen S. Kim

GLENDALE -- Playboy Enterprises Inc. is moving its entertainment

division -- which includes Playboy television, five Spice channels, home

video and feature film production -- to the Glendale area, but Playboy

officials aren’t disclosing its exact location yet.

“Because Playboy one of the most recognizable brands in the world, we

really want to be respectful of those working and living in the community

around us,” said Scott Barton, director of media and public relations for

Playboy Entertainment.

Construction of a studio facility, the first permanent production

studio that Playboy Entertainment will own itself, is already underway in

the Glendale area and will be completed by May.

Until now, Playboy has rented temporary studios in different locations

for its programming.

“We always rented as we needed it, but we began to build up

programming on Playboy TV, “ Barton said, adding that Playboy’s original

television series lineup has increased from three programs to 12 programs

in the last four years. “It’s going to be so much easier for us and

cost-effective to have it all in one location.”

An office building for Playboy’s entertainment division will occupy a

location near the studio. Playboy has been looking at three different

locations in the area for its offices, but Barton said the office

building address has not been announced yet.

The office facility and production studio will represent Playboy

Entertainment’s headquarters, which now occupies Beverly Hills and Los

Angeles offices, once the move is completed.

About 150 daily employees will use the two facilities by the end of

next summer, Barton said.

Barton said Playboy is not overly concerned with community reaction to

the move.

“This is a production facility,” he said. “It’s not the mansion and

you’re not going to see Playmates walking in and out of the building all

day long. We’re really kind of a low-key company.”

City officials could not be reached for comment.