A new service introduced by systems integration specialist Broadcast Networks is designed to help broadcasters and media companies to reduce the cost of deploying new technology by releasing the residual value of old infrastructure.
This ‘full-cycle’ management initiative includes decommissioning and financial solutions. Decommissioning starts with a technical evaluation of all used equipment and a determination of the estimated purchase price. The entire inventory is then removed from site so that the customer does not have to spend costly man-hours trying to sell or dispose of individual items and prepare for clean-site access for the new system build. All sellable equipment is returned to Broadcast Networks’ UK facilities, where it undergoes a thorough quality assessment and, if necessary, repair or reconditioning. The company will safely dispose of any kit of no-economic sale value, in accordance with Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) regulations, and the cost of removal will be deducted from the final offer to the customer.
Together with finance partner Azule, the company is also able to offer tailored solutions combining technology and finance – for example, a new OB vehicle or the upgrading of a technical infrastructure to support a file-based workflow. Financial solutions include operational leasing, letters of credit, bills of exchange and barter deals.
“Transitioning from old equipment to new is always a challenge,” said Paul Wallis, sales director of Broadcast Networks. “Obsolete kit can’t simply be thrown out – you need to adhere to strict European regulations which can make disposal a time-consuming and costly exercise. Furthermore, not all products may be end-of-life; some may still be covered by on-going maintenance agreements so even after decommissioning they can eat into limited budget. We’ve seen many of our clients face these challenges and are now able to take away the pain of complex technology transitions and offer cash for their old equipment.”
Tom Haye (pictured), managing director of Broadcast Networks, added: “We are aware that clients look for reliable partners to help them through periods of business and technical transition whether it is SD to HD, 3D or ‘television in the cloud’. For us, this business is about more than ‘racking and stacking’: our goal is to provide complete end-to-end full-cycle solutions that include decommissioning and disposal of old systems, design and integration of new systems, training, education, financial packages and after-sales support.”
