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Satellite Uplink Truck Finance

Spread the cost of a satellite news gathering or uplink vehicle from £80,000 to £400,000+ with flexible finance options: HP, lease or refinance. Compare rates from 40+ lenders.

Can you finance a satellite uplink truck?

Yes, satellite uplink trucks are financed as a standard asset purchase, usually on hire purchase or a lease, with the machine itself acting as the security. UK prices typically run £80,000 to £400,000, and most deals are written over 36–60 months with a deposit of around 10–20%. Decisions typically take 2–5 working days. Used machines are financeable too, usually with a shorter term.

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Typical Cost

£80k – £400k

Approval Speed

2–5 working days

Faster with an itemised chassis/fit-out quote

Rates From

7.6% APR

What would a satellite uplink truck cost per month?

£180,000
10%
60 months
9%
£0

Your estimate

Indicative only. Not a quote and not an offer of finance.

Pre-filled with a typical satellite uplink truck price. Indicative only, not a quote.

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Finance options

Hire Purchase (HP)

Rate
From 8.2% APR
Term
36–60 months
Deposit
10–20%
Ownership
Yours at the end
Best for
A broadcaster or facilities house building a permanent SNG fleet it expects to run for years

Finance Lease

Rate
From 7.6% APR
Term
36–60 months
Deposit
None required
Ownership
Return or buy (balloon payment)
Best for
Bundling the vehicle chassis, uplink dish and technical fit-out into one deductible payment

Operating Lease

Rate
From 8.8% APR
Term
24–48 months
Deposit
None required
Ownership
Return at end
Best for
News organisations refreshing satellite and encoding technology as transmission standards move on

Representative example

On a purchase price of £180,000: a 10% deposit of £18,000, then 48 monthly payments of £3,797 at 5.9% APR representative (fixed). Total amount payable £200,256, including the deposit. The rate you are offered depends on your business and the asset.

What buyers actually specify

Guide prices for sizing a finance agreement, not quotes. Manufacturers in this market mostly price on application, so where a current UK list price could not be confirmed the row describes a specification class rather than naming a model. Your supplier quote is what the agreement is written against.

Machine or specification Guide price Type
Single-Dish SNG Vehicle (van-based) £80,000 – £150,000 Satellite News Gathering Van
Multi-Camera Uplink Truck £180,000 – £300,000 DSNG Truck
Fly-Away Satellite Kit (vehicle-independent) £40,000 – £90,000 Portable Uplink System
Used SNG/OB Vehicle (5-8 years old) £100,000 – £250,000 Refurbished Uplink Vehicle

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Tax benefits

The vehicle chassis and the technical fit-out, including the satellite dish, encoders and racking, generally both qualify for capital allowances, though the vehicle element is usually treated under the same rules as commercial vehicles rather than plant and machinery, so it's worth having your accountant split the invoice by chassis and technical build. HP and lease payments on the technical equipment follow the same treatment as other broadcast asset finance. Satellite airtime and transponder capacity are a running cost and are not part of the equipment finance agreement.

Market context

Satellite uplink trucks are bought by broadcasters, news agencies and outside broadcast facilities houses that need to transmit live video from locations without a fixed fibre or IP connection, typically for breaking news, sport or remote events. Because the vehicle carries a substantial amount of installed technical equipment, satellite uplink truck finance sits between vehicle finance and broadcast asset finance, and lenders will usually want to see the chassis and the fit-out itemised separately even where they're financed on a single agreement. News organisations covering a wide range of story types often value the flexibility of a lease over long-term ownership, since IP-based bonded cellular transmission has become a viable alternative to satellite for many assignments, changing how heavily a fleet is used over its life.

Bad credit?

Several of our 200+ lenders specialise in businesses with imperfect credit histories. You may need a larger deposit or personal guarantee, but options exist. Checking your options here does not affect your credit score, because we do not run a credit search to match you. A lender will run their own checks only if you decide to apply.

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Frequently asked questions

Is a satellite uplink truck financed as a vehicle or as broadcast equipment?
Both, in practice. The chassis is usually financed under the same terms as any other commercial vehicle, while the satellite dish, encoders, routing and power systems built into it are financed as broadcast technical equipment. Some lenders will put the whole vehicle on one agreement; others prefer to split the chassis and the fit-out so each is treated correctly for tax and depreciation purposes. Ask your broker to confirm how a specific lender structures this before you commit to a supplier quote.
Can I finance the technical fit-out separately from the vehicle?
Yes, this is common where a business already owns or leases the base vehicle and is having the satellite and broadcast equipment fitted afterwards, or where the vehicle and the technical build come from different suppliers. Financing the fit-out on its own agreement, matched to the equipment's useful life rather than the vehicle's, is often more straightforward than trying to combine two different supplier invoices into one deal.
How does IP and bonded cellular transmission affect satellite uplink truck finance?
It doesn't change the finance mechanics, but it's a factor lenders and buyers both weigh when deciding on term length. Many stories that once required a satellite truck can now be covered with bonded cellular transmission from a much smaller vehicle or a backpack unit, so some broadcasters are financing satellite trucks over shorter terms or as leases rather than committing to long-term ownership of a single-purpose vehicle.
Can a smaller production company finance a satellite uplink vehicle, or is this only for broadcasters?
Independent production companies and facilities houses do finance uplink vehicles, particularly a single-dish SNG van rather than a full multi-camera truck, often to service a specific broadcaster contract or event series. Expect closer scrutiny of contracted revenue and trading history than an established broadcaster would face, and be ready to show the work that justifies the purchase.
How quickly can satellite uplink truck finance be approved?
Given the size of the purchase, expect a more thorough review than smaller broadcast equipment, typically a few working days rather than same-day approval, as the lender assesses the vehicle, the technical specification and the business's trading history. Having the chassis and fit-out quoted separately, along with details of the contracted work the vehicle will support, speeds this up.

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