Controlling Costs While Delivering Outstanding Broadcast Graphics 

In the modern broadcast television industry, any organization that fails to closely monitor expenses, eliminate overhead waste, and maximize return on investment (ROI) is bound to lose out to competitors that do. Optimizing your onscreen graphics system for financial efficiency certainly won’t solve all your financial problems, but in a world where streaming and other forms of content delivery are taking ever bigger segments of a rapidly dwindling television audience, broadcasters must do all that they can to cut expenses wherever they can. And graphics infrastructure is far from cheap. 

With the exceedingly challenging nature of today’s broadcast environment in mind, read on for a brief exploration of how to control costs while delivering outstanding broadcast graphics to your viewers. 

To avoid the often-crippling capital expenditure (CapEx) upfront costs that go hand in hand with the purchase of new production and/or broadcast equipment, organizations are increasingly turning to subscription-based operational expenditure (OpEx) models. By taking the OpEx approach, they can avoid the expense of installing and housing additional equipment onsite by contracting with providers that offer graphics capabilities through subscription agreements. These OpEx models allow broadcasters to budget for production and distribution needs as recurring operational expenses that come with predetermined (and therefore predictable) pricing structures.

But just because these pricing structures are often predictable and allow broadcasters to avoid large upfront CapEx expenses, you shouldn’t immediately assume that they are cost-effective for every organization. As virtually anyone with a monthly subscription to anything can readily attest, those small regular charges can really add up over the long term. This is particularly true of some providers that offer only subscription-based pricing models, as well as others that are increasingly promoting lease-based pricing structures.

While subscription and leasing models can offer flexibility and easier entry points, they may also create challenges in long-term budgeting, scaling, and infrastructure alignment, especially for broadcasters with changing needs. This is particularly true for any organization that needs to scale its video production and broadcast graphics capabilities to adapt to new demands and objectives.

While the OpEx approach is great for controlling upfront investment costs, it requires ongoing budget allocations for recurring payments tied to your provider contract. The CapEx approach, by contrast, generally involves a single, large purchase, after which an organization wholly owns that purchase in perpetuity. This approach might come with a substantial upfront expense, but it can significantly reduce ongoing costs.

The value of any CapEx graphics infrastructure investment can be challenging to assess before you make it. Although one of these systems can require a substantial initial payment, it can lead to lasting advantages and value generation over time. If it delivers month after month and year after year of dependable service, your graphics system will inevitably pay for itself.

When it comes to choosing between the CapEx and the OpEx approach, different paths will make sense for different broadcasters. Are you looking for the flexibility of ownership without tying yourself to a never-ending subscription? Then you should gravitate toward the CapEx approach. Do you have significant cashflow problems at the moment, or do you want to protect yourself from catastrophic financial risk in the future? Then you will certainly want to consider the OpEx approach.

Both the CapEx and the OpEx approaches can provide exceptional video production and broadcast graphics, and both have their own unique but generally equal benefits and drawbacks in terms of workflow integration and operational efficiency. So, wouldn’t it be great if you could select a high-quality graphics system that meets your needs and then come up with a CapEx or OpEx pricing structure that works best for you? Well, with Ross Video, you can. 

A comprehensive 2D and 3D graphics engine, XPression has a highly scalable architecture. This means that broadcast organizations can start with a streamlined setup and expand capabilities as needed without being locked into restrictive pricing models. The most powerful real-time motion graphics system on the market, XPression allows you to build striking onscreen visuals and animations with amazing ease. 

And, thanks to its flexible pricing models, Ross makes paying for XPression as easy as using it. XPression is available as a perpetual (CapEx) model, which provides organizations with outright ownership, or as a subscription (OpEx) model, allowing them to pay for graphics capabilities as needed. The Ross team can even help you determine which of these models better suits your current and projected business preferences and requirements. 

Whether you’re managing a long-term investment strategy or responding to shifting production demands, XPression empowers you to scale on your terms. Its flexible purchasing options—paired with powerful, real-time graphics capabilities—give you control over both performance and spend. For broadcasters seeking to balance innovation with financial strategy, XPression delivers the best of both worlds. 

Visit the Ross Video website for more information about the XPression. Knowledgeable company representatives are ready to explain how cost-effective these systems can be.