Finance Assets arranges asset finance for television and radio broadcasters, helping UK stations, channels and facilities companies fund studio equipment, playout, transmitters, outside broadcast trucks and IP infrastructure.
Asset finance for television and radio broadcasters spreads the cost of that equipment over 2 to 7 years, so advertising, sponsorship and contract income pays for the kit as it earns. It suits local and community radio stations upgrading studios, TV channels moving to IP, and outside broadcast companies adding trucks for a new contract.
Written by Marcus Wright, founder of Bolton Business Finance Ltd, in financial services since 2008 and a commercial finance broker since 2019. Last reviewed October 2026.
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The short version
- Asset finance lets broadcasters spread the cost of equipment over 2 to 7 years.
- Studio, playout, transmission and outside broadcast equipment can all be funded, usually with installation.
- For licensed stations, lenders want the finance to fit within the broadcast licence, or evidence it is likely to be renewed.
- Outside broadcast trucks hold their value and suit longer terms.
- Finance Assets arranges asset finance for broadcasters trading as limited companies and LLPs, and for sole traders and partnerships on agreements over £25,000.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Equipment covered | Studio cameras, vision and audio mixers, playout systems, transmitters, encoders, IP routing, outside broadcast trucks and newsgathering kit |
| Terms | Usually 2 to 5 years for studio and IT equipment, up to 7 years for outside broadcast trucks and transmitters |
| Paid upfront | Hire purchase: often a 10% deposit plus VAT. Leases: usually 1 to 3 rentals in advance |
| New or used | Both, including used broadcast equipment and refurbished OB trucks |
| Extras | Installation, cabling, systems integration and perpetual software licences can often be included |
| Who we help | Limited companies, community interest companies and LLPs, plus sole traders and partnerships on business agreements over £25,000 |
Equipment we finance for television and radio broadcasters
Lenders will fund most of the equipment a broadcaster relies on, from the microphone to the mast. Our audio-visual equipment finance guide covers the individual kit in more detail.
| Equipment group | Examples |
|---|---|
| Radio studios | Broadcast mixing consoles, microphones, audio processing, codecs and studio furniture. See recording finance |
| TV studios | Studio and PTZ cameras, vision mixers, graphics systems and studio lighting. See broadcast finance |
| Playout and automation | Playout servers, scheduling and automation systems, and monitoring |
| Transmission | FM and DAB transmitters, antennas, multiplex equipment and links |
| IP infrastructure | IP routing, network switches, encoders, decoders and streaming servers. See IT equipment finance |
| Outside broadcast | OB trucks, flyaway kits, satellite uplink vehicles and remote production equipment |
| Newsgathering | ENG cameras, bonded cellular transmitters, live units and edit laptops. See camera finance |
| Post-production and archive | Edit suites, shared storage and archive systems. See editing finance |
| Resilience | Uninterruptible power supplies, standby generators and air conditioning for equipment rooms |
Finance for radio stations and DAB multiplexes
Radio stations, from community stations to commercial groups, finance studio refits, transmission and the move to DAB.
- Broadcast licences. Ofcom licences run for fixed periods. Lenders want the finance to end within the licence, or evidence of past renewals.
- Small-scale DAB. Multiplex operators can fund transmitters and multiplexing equipment. Lenders look at how many stations are signed up to carry.
- Community stations. Stations set up as community interest companies can use asset finance. Lenders look at grant, sponsorship and advertising income together.
- Studio refits. Consoles, processing and furniture across several studios can go on one agreement with installation.
Finance for television channels and studios
Television channels and studio facilities invest in systems that run around the clock.
- Moving to IP. Replacing older video routing with IP infrastructure is often funded as one project with systems integration included.
- Playout. Playout servers and automation can be funded. Perpetual software licences can sometimes be included. Subscriptions and cloud playout cannot.
- Studio facilities. Companies hiring studios to producers can fund cameras, lighting rigs and galleries. Lenders look at booking history.
- Building work. Building or converting studio premises is usually funded with a commercial mortgage, not asset finance.
Production companies making content for broadcasters have their own page: see asset finance for film production companies.
Finance for outside broadcast and facilities companies
Outside broadcast companies cover sport, music and live events, often under contracts with broadcasters.
- OB trucks. The vehicle and its built-in equipment can be funded together, usually on longer terms because trucks are rebuilt and reused.
- Contracts. A multi-year contract with a broadcaster or rights holder makes approval easier. Lenders compare the contract length with the finance term.
- Seasonal income. Where work follows the sporting calendar, payments can sometimes be set to match it.
- Remote production. Flyaway kits and remote production equipment are funded in the same way as truck-based systems.
Finance options for television and radio broadcasters
Broadcasters usually buy long-life equipment on hire purchase and lease IT-based systems that will be replaced. Our types of asset finance guide covers each option in more depth.
| Type | How it works | Suits |
|---|---|---|
| Hire purchase | A deposit, then fixed monthly payments. You own the equipment after the last one | OB trucks, transmitters and studio equipment you will keep |
| Finance lease | Rentals with VAT added to each one. The lender owns the equipment | Spreading the VAT on a large studio or IP project |
| Operating lease | Lower rentals priced around the expected resale value. You hand it back at the end | Servers and IT-based systems with a short life |
| Contract hire | A fixed rental for an agreed term and mileage, often with maintenance included | News cars, vans and support vehicles |
Hire purchase for television and radio broadcasters
Hire purchase for television and radio broadcasters is the usual way to buy OB trucks, transmitters and studio equipment you plan to keep. You pay a deposit, often around 10% plus the VAT, then fixed monthly payments, and the equipment is yours after the last one. You are treated as the owner for tax from the start, so you may be able to claim capital allowances.
Finance lease for television and radio broadcasters
A finance lease for television and radio broadcasters suits a large studio or IP project, because VAT is added to each rental instead of being paid upfront. The lender keeps ownership. At the end you can usually keep using the equipment for a small secondary rental, or sell it and receive most of the proceeds.
Operating lease for television and radio broadcasters
An operating lease for television and radio broadcasters works for servers and IT-based systems that will be replaced within a few years. Rentals are set around what the equipment should be worth at the end, and you hand it back or upgrade when the term finishes.
Contract hire for television and radio broadcasters
Contract hire for television and radio broadcasters is used mainly for news cars, vans and support vehicles. You pay a fixed monthly rental for an agreed term and mileage, with servicing often included, and the vehicle goes back at the end.
VAT and tax for broadcasters
On hire purchase, VAT on the full price is usually paid at the start and reclaimed on your next VAT return. On a lease, VAT is added to each rental, which can suit community stations that cannot reclaim all their VAT. With hire purchase you may be able to claim capital allowances, and lease rentals are usually an allowable business expense. Check the tax treatment with your accountant.
Outside broadcast truck finance costs: a worked example
A £240,000 refurbished outside broadcast truck with its camera and production equipment costs about £4,484 a month on a 5-year hire purchase, or about £3,894 a month over 6 years.
| Item | 5 years | 6 years |
|---|---|---|
| Price (excl. VAT) | £240,000 | £240,000 |
| Deposit (10%) | £24,000 | £24,000 |
| VAT paid upfront | £48,000 | £48,000 |
| Monthly payment | £4,483.80 | £3,893.52 |
| Total interest | £53,028 | £64,333 |
The longer term lowers the monthly payment by about £590 but adds around £11,305 of interest. Lenders will usually want the term to end within any contract the truck is bought to serve, or evidence of work beyond it.
Illustration calculated in October 2026, assuming an interest rate of 9% a year. It is not a quote. Your rate depends on your trading history, credit profile and the equipment.
What lenders look for in television and radio broadcasters
Lenders look at the usual financial documents, plus evidence of where income comes from and how long it is secure.
- Your last 2 years of filed accounts, or management accounts and a forecast for newer businesses
- Your last 3 to 6 months of business bank statements
- Your broadcast licence and its expiry date, where you hold one
- Main income sources, such as advertising, sponsorship, carriage fees or broadcaster contracts
- Supplier or integrator quotes, plus photo ID and address history for each director, member or partner
Related guides
- Audio-visual equipment finance, for cameras, studios and broadcast kit
- Asset finance for film production companies
- IT equipment finance, for servers, networks and storage
- All sectors we finance
- Types of asset finance
Who we can help
We arrange asset finance for television and radio broadcasters that trade as UK limited companies, community interest companies and LLPs, and for sole traders and partnerships on agreements over £25,000 that are for business purposes. We are not authorised by the FCA, so we cannot arrange agreements of £25,000 or less for sole traders or partnerships of two or three partners, or finance for personal use.
Asset finance for television and radio broadcasters FAQs
Can a community radio station get equipment finance?
Yes, if it trades as a limited company or community interest company. Lenders look at grant, sponsorship and advertising income together, and at how long the licence has left to run.
Does the finance term have to fit within my broadcast licence?
Lenders usually prefer that it does. If the term runs past the licence end date, evidence of past renewals and a strong track record help.
Can an outside broadcast truck be financed?
Yes. The vehicle and its built-in equipment can be funded together, new or refurbished, often over 5 to 7 years.
How much does outside broadcast truck finance cost?
It depends on the truck, the term and your business. As an illustration, a £240,000 OB truck costs about £4,484 a month over 5 years on hire purchase at 9%, after a 10% deposit and the VAT paid upfront, or about £3,894 a month over 6 years.
Can broadcast software and playout systems be financed?
Playout hardware and perpetual software licences can often be included alongside the equipment. Subscriptions and cloud services cannot, because there is nothing for the lender to own.
Can transmitters be financed?
Yes. FM and DAB transmitters, antennas and multiplex equipment can be funded with installation. Lenders will check where the equipment is sited and the agreement for the site.
Get an asset finance quote for your station or facility
Tell us what you want to finance
Send us the equipment, the prices and a few details about your station or company. We will come back with the options that are realistic and what they are likely to cost.
About the author
Marcus Wright is the owner and founder of Bolton Business Finance Ltd, which trades as Finance Assets. He has worked in financial services since 2008, beginning his career at Santander, and has been a commercial finance broker since March 2019.
He founded Bolton Business Finance in 2020 to give businesses access to the whole lending market rather than one bank’s own product range. The firm is a member of the National Association of Commercial Finance Brokers and works with a panel of 135+ lenders. Call 0161 546 9128.
Finance Assets is a trading name of Bolton Business Finance Ltd, an independent commercial finance brokerage, not a lender. We are not authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority and can only complete non-regulated introductions. All lending is for business purposes only. Registered address: Westgate House, 1 Westgate Avenue, Bolton, Greater Manchester, BL1 4RF. Company number 12495909.