Red Bee Media will now manage all of Five's video-on-demand services, including content distribution to Five's VoD service, Demand Five, and the syndication, live streaming, content management and delivery of the broadcaster's original full-length programmes to YouTube in the UK.
The contract includes all video content and metadata for the group, receiving and distributing content via its Media Gateway file acceleration platform.
Red Bee Media will transcode to multiple platform formats, enhancing the content by adding idents and on-screen graphics, and manipulating the associated metadata to allow a more streamlined and fully tape-less workflow, adding value to deliver even more compelling experiences for viewers.
Paul Thornton-Jones, controller VoD & technology at Five Digital Media Group, said: "This deal signals a new era in Five's digital media strategy. The VoD world is rapidly changing and, as a result, the technology and workflows required are increasingly sophisticated."
In December, Five signed a deal with YouTube involving Australian soaps 'Neighbours' and 'Home and Away' and UK programmes 'The Hotel Inspector' and 'The Gadget Show'.
They all now appear for free online shortly after transmission, with revenues from pre and mid-roll advertising shared between Five and Google.
About 250 hours of programming from Five's archive will also be included in the three-year deal.
Five remains in discussions with US rights holders to get popular imports such as 'CSI' and 'FlashForward' included in the YouTube lineup.
Red Bee Media already handles VoD services for broadcasters Channel 4 (4oD) and BBC (iPlayer).
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