A+E Networks EMEA moves to the cloud with Arqiva for VOD expansion

UK communications infrastructure and media services provider Arqiva has renewed its contract with A+E Networks EMEA for a further two years.

The renewal includes the delivery of VOD services to around 35 European head end affiliate platforms.

The contract extension will see Arqiva implement a fully 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, the company said it would now work with A+E Networks to shift all existing archived content to an entirely virtual environment.

Arqiva said its 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.

Arqiva said it has worked hard to drive standardisation procedures to simplify processes and reduce costs, developing a house format that can be produced once and then distributed across multiple affiliate platforms.

Chris Alner, commercial director, commercial broadcast and radio at Arqiva, said: “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.”

Matt Westrup, SVP technology and operations,at A+E Networks EMEA, said: “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.”