Aferian Regulatory News (AFRN)

RNS Reach

16 February 2022

AFERIAN PLC

("Aferian", the "Company" or the "Group")

24i powers Denmark's Waoo to launch new generation of streaming devices and integrated search functionality

Waoo extends its use of the 24i streaming platform to reach Android TV Operator Tier STBs and adds 24i's Universal Search functionality to boost content discoverability

Aferian plc (LSE AIM: AFRN), the B2B video streaming solutions company, announces that its 24i video streaming platform is supporting Waoo, Denmark's leading provider of internet, TV and telephony via the fibre network, to bring its Pay TV service to a new generation of Android TV set top boxes (STBs), as well as adding third party aggregated content and enhanced search functionality.

As part of their continuing efforts to deliver better customer experience, Waoo recently launched a new generation of STBs that make use of a new custom Android TV launcher built by the 24i team. The new devices include Waoo's offering of live TV channels, network PVR, catch-up TV and a VOD rental store. They are powered by the same 24i streaming platform that already supports Waoo's service on other devices including mobile phones and Apple TV devices.

Waoo has been a long-standing client of Nordija, now part of 24i, relying on its solutions since 2010. This successful partnership now continues with the enlarged 24i which has previously deployed Android TV services for Pay TV operators including Youfone in the Netherlands and Entel in Chile.

In addition, Waoo has also rolled out 24i's Unified Search capabilities to all its devices to enable better search and discovery of video content in a growing library of live and on-demand content. Users can now get integrated search results from across the Waoo platform, including catch-up TV, the EPG (TV Guide) and more than 12,000 TV and Movie titles available to rent in the "Waoo Bio" VOD store.

Martin Jürgensen, Waoo's Senior Product Development Manager, said: "Aggregation is the keyword. Using our existing 24i streaming platform to reach Android TV boxes with the Google Play Store means we can offer our customers a wider range of attractive content. We are preloading the new TV boxes with apps from streaming services like Disney+, Discovery+, Viaplay and the national broadcaster DR. Users can also download apps for themselves like Spotify or games. This makes the box become a versatile media hub in the home.

"The new Universal Search function only enhances this versatility, and is already proving popular with our subscribers. As a viewer, you just have one place to go to find the content you're looking for, so you don't have to browse all kinds of catalogues and archives. You can just start entering the name of an actor or a show and then the result will pop up. It's an easy way to discover content and it works across all devices including STBs, web and mobile phones."

Joachim Bergman, 24i CEO and Aferian Board Member, said: "We have been working with Waoo for many years now and they've always wanted to innovate and offer their subscribers ground-breaking features, so we're delighted to have supported them on this latest step into content super-aggregation. The combination of a custom Android TV launcher and our cloud-hosted Universal Search solution is a great way to give customers what they want - quality, choice and convenience."

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About Aferian plc 

Aferian plc (AIM: AFRN) is a B2B video streaming solutions company. Our end-to-end solutions bring live and on-demand video to every kind of screen. We create the forward-thinking solutions that our customers need to drive subscriber engagement, audience satisfaction, and revenue growth.

It is our belief that successful media companies and services will be those that are most consumer-centric, data driven and flexible to change. We focus on innovating technologies that enable our customers stay ahead of evolving viewer demand by providing smarter, more cost-effective ways of delivering end-to-end modern TV and video experiences to consumers. By anticipating technological and behavioural audience trends, our software solutions empower our customers to heighten viewer enjoyment, drive growth in audience share and ultimately their profitability.

Aferian plc has two operating companies: 24i, which focusses on streaming video experiences, and Amino, which connects Pay TV to streaming services. Our two complementary companies combine their products and services to create solutions which ensure that people can consume TV and video how and when they want it. Our solutions deliver modern TV and video experiences every day to millions of viewers globally, via our growing global customer base of over 500 service providers.

Aferian plc is traded on the London Stock Exchange's AIM stock market (AIM: symbol AFRN). Headquartered in Cambridge, UK, the Company has over 350 staff located in offices in San Francisco, Amsterdam, Helsinki, Copenhagen, Madrid, Porto, Brno, Buenos Aires, and Hong Kong. For more information, please visit www.aferian.com.

About 24i

24i offers a fast, cost-effective route to video streaming success on all consumer devices including Smart TVs, Roku, Apple TV, STBs and phones. Its end-to-end software solutions and expertise enable OTT services, broadcasters and Pay TV operators to launch elegant video streaming services, operate efficiently and grow their brands and revenue.

Founded in 2009, 24i is an Aferian plc (AIM: AFRN) group company headquartered in Amsterdam, with offices in Brno, Copenhagen, Helsinki, Madrid, Burlingame and Buenos Aires. We serve 250+ customers in 100 countries.

24i embodies the Dutch spirit: we work hard, innovate, and explore. For more, visit 24i.com

About Waoo

Waoo is Denmark's leading provider of internet, TV and telephony via the fibre network. Waoo is headquartered in Tilst near Aarhus, but collaborates with local partners across the country. For more, visit waoo.dk/