Argosy – From Cable Shifters To Full Service Providers

Balancing the need to maintain existing equipment and the desire to provide the highest resolution picture and sound has become a constant battle, admits Chris Smeeton – MD, EMEA – Argosy.

Consequentially, cabling is now an area where broadcasters are actively approaching suppliers for help in maximising existing investments, presenting experts, like Argosy, an opportunity to demonstrate their consultative services instead of purely shifting product.

There are plenty of cabling options that many broadcasters just aren't aware of when it comes to balancing quality and cost. For example, fibre is usually the go-to cable type when upgrading to 4K.

This certainly applies to critical signals running to and from mobile production vehicles at live sporting events, but when it comes to 4K signals over shorter cable runs – say, across a rack-room – standard coax is quite adequate.

So, instead of throwing out the existing equipment and starting again at great cost, Argosy provides guidance to engineers on what the existing coaxial solution is capable of: Does it need replacing? Do certain lengths need to be re-run? What cable options are available?

Consultation includes more than just product expertise and enters the realm of business solutions as well.

Argosy recently developed a deployable case assembly in collaboration with an OB client who was seeking to decrease rigging/de-rigging times at events. The result was a reduction in onsite labour time, one of the largest costs of an install project. In other words, greater profits and/or flexibility for the client.

In addition to consultation, many distributors are seeking other ways to support their customers' bottom lines. Argosy recently launched cleaning and repair services for damaged cables, building a new fibre termination facility as well as an assembly department onsite. These capabilities enable cost-conscious clients to reuse costly cables instead of procuring new assemblies after minimal use.

This expansion from a focus on product distribution to procurement solutions fosters broadcasters' ability to navigate the increasingly complex set of infrastructure options at their disposal.

www.argosycable.com

This article also features in the April edition of Broadcast Film & Video.

(JP)