Broadcast Rental Establishes UK Operation

Dutch broadcast services firm Broadcast Rental has created a UK subsidiary as part of its international growth plans, with trading to begin in June. The new entity, Broadcast Rental UK, will be headed by former Gravity Media executive Matt Coyde as managing director.

The British operation will initially concentrate on wireless camera systems, RF services and dry-hire rental equipment, while also backing overseas flypack projects for UK-based clients. The move adds a local foothold in a key market for the Netherlands-headquartered company as it broadens its global reach.

Paul Chamalaun, Chief Commercial Officer at Broadcast Rental, said the UK expansion had been contemplated for several years. "Broadcast Rental, as it is now in the Netherlands, is already more than 15 years old," said Chamalaun. "Over the last 10 years, the company has become a more specialised partner in wireless camera systems and large flypack setups." He noted that the business has expanded significantly and now employs 18 people, most of whom are specialists in wireless and flypack operations.

"We felt we had reached a point where we were capable of delivering services at the highest level worldwide," he said. "At the same time, we recognised there are natural limits to growth when operating from a single territory." He added that Brexit had set the UK apart as a distinct market that benefits from a local presence.

"The UK is a hugely important market for broadcasting, sport, live music and events," Chamalaun said. "We felt the best way to respond to that was by creating a dedicated UK operation."

Coyde said the team is finalising operational arrangements, including office premises at Shepperton Studios North. The company aims to build a stocked UK base in the second half of the year, prioritising investment in RF systems and dry-hire rental kit. In the initial phase, additional equipment may be supplied from the Netherlands before further dedicated UK investment follows later this year.

"The whole philosophy, especially in the startup phase, is to understand what type of equipment is most needed in the UK," Chamalaun added. "That way, we can invest directly in what our partners and clients need." He confirmed the UK business will work closely with the Dutch operation, sharing resources and services across the group.

Coyde said the approach in Britain will be collaboration-first within what he described as a specialist market. "We don't necessarily want to go in and compete aggressively with the rest of the market," he said. "We are operating in a niche market where collaboration and partnership are definitely the way forward." The company will engage a broad customer set, including broadcast facilities providers, production companies, broadcasters and rights holders.

"The Broadcast Rental brand is already strong internationally and is recognised within the UK market," Coyde said. "There are many UK companies operating overseas, particularly on large-scale productions." He added that the company will explore opportunities to bring specialist camera technologies and services to the UK via strategic investments and partnerships with manufacturers and suppliers. "There's a broad range of opportunities for us," he said. "We want to talk to people, listen and continue developing the service."

Chamalaun said the current market dynamics favour nimble, independent providers able to tailor solutions quickly. "We're seeing more and more across Europe, including in the UK, a need for smaller and more agile companies that can adapt quickly without the complexities often associated with very large organisations," he said.

Broadcast Rental's initial emphasis will be on supporting existing UK customers already collaborating with the company on international productions, with a gradual build-out of domestic operations and services. As an independent business, the company said it will continue to prioritise service quality and innovation, maintaining the flexibility to meet the evolving needs of broadcasters and live event producers in the UK.

www.broadcastrental.com/