Arqiva Delivers New Cloud-Based VoD Solution for A+E Networks EMEA

The two-year contract renewal will see all content and processing moved to an entirely virtual environment

October 28 2021, UK, London: Arqiva, the leading UK communications infrastructure and media services provider, has today announced the renewal of its contract with A+E Networks EMEA for a further two years. This renewal includes the delivery of Video on Demand (VoD) services to around 35 European head end affiliate platforms.

The contract extension will see Arqiva implement a completely cloud-based solution that will allow A+E Networks to bring audiences an expanded library of on-demand content until at least 2023. Over the past three years Arqiva has delivered a hybrid solution, however as Arqiva has continually enhanced its cloud capabilities, it will now simultaneously work with A+E Networks to shift all existing archived content to an entirely virtual environment.

Arqiva’s productized offering is tailored by the creation of custom workflows suitable for A+E’s destination platform specific requirements. Featuring an end-to-end cloud-contained journey, the solution takes content from the archive, then processes, packages and delivers it to platforms such as Amazon Prime, Apple TV+, Sky Italia, MediaSet and M7 Group for on-demand viewing. Processing VoD requests in the cloud drives significant cost-savings, and also enables Arqiva to process and deliver more assets, at the same time and at a far quicker pace.

To simplify the process for A+E and bring consistency, Arqiva has also worked hard to drive standardisation procedures, by developing a ‘house format’ which can be produced once and then distributed across multiple affiliate platforms.

This deal represents an important milestone for Arqiva, as A+E Networks will become one of our first customers to leverage an entirely cloud-based solution. We’ve gained extensive expertise around cloud infrastructure since beginning our journey with A+E Networks three years ago, and we’re pleased that we’ve been chosen against strong competition to continue delivering on its goal to achieve an entirely cloud-based platform. 

Chris Alner, Commercial Director - Commercial Broadcast & Radio at Arqiva

We are delighted to continue this partnership with Arqiva. Our VOD fulfilment has grown with breath-taking speed and it has been a competitive advantage to be able to meet these complex demands with an efficient, reliable and scalable VOD solution from Arqiva. Their teams treat our customers and content as if it were their own.

Matt Westrup, SVP Technology & Operations, at A+E Networks EMEA 

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About A+E Networks

A+E Networks® EMEA is a leading media network with a portfolio of popular, high-performing and creative brands:  HISTORY®, Crime+Investigation®, HISTORY2® Lifetime®, Cosmo TV and BLAZE®.  We have entertained, informed and inspired audiences for over 20 years: telling stories that matter on linear TV and on demand. Our award-winning factual and entertainment content includes global hit franchises like Curse of Oak Island and The Jail: 60 Days In, must-see drama-docs such as Lincoln and Washington, as well as original local commissions including: Al Murray’s Why Do the Brits Win Every War and Murdertown with Anita Rani (UK), Married at First Sight (Africa) and The Hunt for Baltic Gold (Poland).  We recently launched C+I Play and History Play, which are hugely successful subscription streaming services on Prime Video Channels and Apple TV Channels.

We currently broadcast throughout the Nordics, Benelux, Central Europe, Italy, Spain, Germany, the UK, the Middle East and Africa.