Kit hire firm VMI is launching a service that will specialise in the hire of media cards and hard drives.

VMEDIA will rent out CFast2 and XQD cards, RED Mini Mags and solid state drives (SSD) for Convergent Design Odyssey and Atomos Shogun monitor-recorders plus associated readers and transfer devices for users in the London area.

VMI managing director Barry Bassett told Broadcast that he is responding to production demands driven by the move to 4K.

“As people embrace higher quality with 4K, the media demands are significantly greater than they used to be,” he said.

“A large production may suddenly need a very generous quantity of extra media. Other clients might require one specific SSD to cater for a last minute job, but everyone is under pressure to meet deadlines. This fluctuation has previously meant it was hard to judge exactly where and when the need might fall.”

The service includes delivery of the media by an electric-powered BMW that will be driven daily into central London.

Since the vehicle incurs no congestion charge, Bassett says he can keep costs to £25 each way “equivalent to the cost of a bike courier.”

A drop-off point for returning media will be made available in Fitzrovia.