A content delivery network transcodes content objects from a content provider for transmission to end users. The content delivery network includes network storage and servers. When a content object is uploaded, the network storage stores a copy of the content object, and a copy of the content object is directed to external file-based storage. At least one of the servers directs segments of the content object to a plurality of transcoding servers. Each of the transcoding servers informs a segment engine about which of the segments the transcoding server has received, transcodes the received segment to form a transcoded segment receivable by at least one of the end users, and transmits the transcoded segment to a permanent storage location. The content delivery network verifies that the copy of the content object is stored in the external file-based storage, and deletes the local copy of the content object.