About Assignment Desk
Since 1997, Assignment Desk has been America's leading network of staff camera crews. More than 25 years of experience in news, sport, documentary and corporate video production.
Our Story
Assignment Desk was founded in 1997 in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina to solve a problem that UK broadcasters knew well: finding reliable, broadcast-standard US camera crews at short notice. The old approach โ a patchwork of self-employed freelancers from varying backgrounds โ produced inconsistent quality and real logistical risk.
We reversed that model. Staff DPs employed directly on W-2 contracts, organised across the most important US markets, with centralised booking, consistent rates and transparent invoicing. UK broadcasters could finally book a US crew the same way they booked everything else โ reliably, with accountability.
Today we cover 50+ US markets. Our regular clients include BBC News, ITV News, Channel 4, Sky News, Reuters, ESPN, NFL, CNN, Bloomberg, PGA Tour and FOX Sports. We also operate a 12-month paid DP Apprenticeship โ a federally accredited W-2 programme โ that develops the next generation of American broadcast camera operators.
What Sets Us Apart
- โ Hybrid model: 20+ staff DPs as the core team, supported by 4,200 freelance crew members for specialist roles and large-scale productions.
- โ UK-broadcaster expertise: We understand BBC, ITV and Channel 4 delivery requirements โ frame rates, audio levels, card formats and codec preferences.
- โ Transparent rates: Day rates in USD, SWIFT bank transfer accepted, VAT-compliant invoicing available. No hidden charges.
- โ 2-hour response time: On US weekdays we confirm availability and pricing within 2 hours โ that is afternoon and early evening UK time.
- โ Full insurance cover: Workers' compensation, general liability and equipment insurance are all included. No risk transfer to your production company.