Hire companies and resellers have invested a total of over£9.3m in HD kit this month. Presteigne Broadcast Hire has ploughed more than£6.5m into HD kit, which includes the purchase of 30 Sony HD VT recorders and slow motion equipment.
Hire companies and resellers have invested a total of over£9.3m in HD kit this month. Presteigne Broadcast Hire has ploughed more than£6.5m into HD kit, which includes the purchase of 30 Sony HD VT recorders and slow motion equipment.

The company, which opened an office in Germany last month, has also ordered LDK WorldCam and Super Slo Mo cameras from Thomson, Canon HD lenses, and EVS LSM XT units.

Broadcast equipment and service provider Mitcorp has earmarked£2.5m to invest in the launch of a new rental division specialising in HD kit.

Mitcorp Broadcast Rental, set to launch later this month, has not committed to particular manufacturers at this stage but on its shopping list will be a range of broadcast kit for dry hire - from cameras and lenses to VTRs and monitors.

Former Gearhouse Rental manager Stephen Ratcliff is spearheading the new division and while no clients have been disclosed he is in talks with European broadcasters, OB companies and post houses.

Reseller and hire outfit Visual Impact meanwhile has invested£300,000 in HD, placing the first major order for Sony's XDCam HD non-linear system in the UK. The company has bought 20 PDW-F330 XDCam HD camcorders and 10 PDW F30 viewing decks. The equipment will be split between their hire rental stock for the Visual Impact Group and sales stock.

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