RD Group announces acquisition of VMI.TV

RD Group has announced the acquisition of VMI.TV, the nearly 50-year-old camera, lens and lighting rental house. 

The acquisition “secures the future of a deeply established independent supplier, protects access to an exceptional equipment base, and introduces new backing for the next generation of British directors of photography”, a press release said.

“The deal safeguards one of the country’s most respected independent rental houses at a moment of acute strain on the sector,” RD Group continued. 

“For RD Group, the creative production group behind RD Content, RD Studios London and RD Rentals, the acquisition is both a rescue and a renewal.”

“This is a business that has served British broadcasting for nearly half a century, and the idea of letting it disappear was simply unthinkable,” said Ryan Dean, CEO of RD Group. 

“VMI isn’t just a rental house, it’s a piece of our industry’s infrastructure. We’re proud to be the ones bringing it back, and we intend to do it properly.”

More information – provided by RD Group – is available below.

An arsenal of kit, much of it under-celebrated

Many cinematographers may not realise the breadth of what VMI holds, from flagship digital cinema bodies and high-speed cinema cameras to a lens library that spans classic character glass and modern large-format favourites. 

The company has one of the UK’s strongest independent camera arrays, including ARRI Alexa 35s, Sony VENICE 2s and Freefly Embers, paired with a lens library spanning Cooke Anamorphic/i, Tribe7 Blackwings, Kowa Anamorphics and Zeiss Supremes. 

Alongside this sits a substantial documentary and wildlife package, a long-standing area of VMI strength, together with a comprehensive grip and lighting offer. 

Combined with the kit held by RD Rentals, the enlarged operation is capable of supporting up to seven primetime dramas simultaneously: a scale few independent houses in the UK can match.

A connected, sustainable offer through RD Studios

The acquisition also unlocks a differentiated proposition for producers. With RD Studios London inside the same group, productions can now access stages, cameras, lenses, lighting, grip and creative services from a single connected operation, reducing duplication, transport movements and on-set emissions in the process. 

Renewed focus on drama, unwavering commitment to commercials

While VMI built much of its reputation on broadcast drama, documentary and wildlife – heritage the group intends to honour and amplify – RD Group remains absolutely committed to the commercials industry that has been its own home for years. 

The enlarged business will serve both markets, with a renewed drama push backed by deeper regional presence and stronger crew relationships across the UK.

Growing regional presence 

The combined group will expand its regional footprint to better serve productions shooting outside London, where an increasing share of UK drama is now based. 

Further announcements on regional capability are expected in the coming months.

Backing the next generation of DPs

In a move designed to invest directly in the future of British cinematography, the group will launch a new initiative supporting 10 young directors of photography over the next 12 months. 

The programme will back emerging DPs on short films and personal projects with access to VMI and RD Rentals kit. 

Applications open in the coming weeks, and all interested camera and production crew are invited to contact events@vmi.tv to find out more about this scheme. 

The initiative is intended not simply as sponsorship, but as practical access to the tools that help emerging image-makers build real work.

“Our industry runs on the talent coming through behind us,” Dean added. “If we want the next generation of great British DPs to keep emerging, we need to put the tools in their hands to prove what they can do. This is our contribution.”