Rakuten TV launches over 90 free linear channels, offering the finest global and local entertainment

Rakuten TV launches over 90 free linear channels, offering the finest global and local entertainment across Europe 

  • Partnerships with top European media groups strengthen Rakuten TV’s commitment to providing relevant content to audiences in all territories, such as FilmRise, Real Stories, Timeline and the LEGO® channel in the UK
  • This enhanced programming will deliver the highest quality content, featuring channels from leading global media groups, including Bloomberg TV, Bloomberg Quicktake, CNNi, Euronews, Glamour, GQ, Qwest TV, Reuters, Stingray, The Hollywood Reporter, Vanity Fair, Vogue and Wired
  • The wide range of Rakuten TV’s own thematic channels will offer the best selection of curated content categorized by genre, featuring films from Hollywood and local studios, documentaries, and more
  • With 1.5 billion video ad-impressions forecasted to be generated in 2021, this launch expands opportunities for advertisers across 35 million devices reached through the branded remote control and pre-installed app on Smart TVs

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 Barcelona, 27th April, 2021 Rakuten TV today announced the expansion of its AVOD offering with the launch of more than 90 free linear channels in 42 European markets. The platform will gather the best global and local entertainment programming from the world’s top international channels, renowned local content providers and curated own themed-channels. The new line-up will enhance the user experience by delivering even more entertainment 24/7 for free. The launch will be progressive with plans to further increase in the next months.

This launch represents a further step in the company’s growth and will reinforce Rakuten TV’s unique proposition by offering a wide range of content to suit all tastes. The line-up will vary in each territory, comprising a variety of categories, including Movies, Entertainment, Lifestyle, Music, Sports, News, TV Shows and Kids. The offer will bring together top global brands, such as Bloomberg TV, Bloomberg Quicktake, CNNi (available in the UK, Germany and Poland), Euronews (the first live channel integrated into Rakuten TV’s AVOD offer), Qwest TV, Reuters, and XUMO-powered content, including eight Stingray channels, The Hollywood Reporter channel and top brands from Condé Nast, such as Glamour, GQ, Vanity Fair, Vogue and Wired.

Audiences will find a compelling selection of local content through partnerships with top European media groups for the launch of new channels, such as FilmRise, Real Stories, Timeline and the LEGO® channel in the UK; ¡Hola! Play and Planeta Junior (European leader in kids and family entertainment content) in Spain; L’atelier des chefs, Luxe, Motosport and Humanity in France; as well as established channels; Netzkino, Waidwerk Free, Tierwelt Live and Deluxe Lounge HD in Germany; and Bizzarro Movies and Cinema Segreto in Italy.

Furthermore, viewers will be able to enjoy Rakuten TV own channels, a broad and varied selection of content curated by categories, based on specific genres and interests: Action, Comedy, Drama, British Films, Family, Documentaries, Thriller, Romance, Spotlight (featuring Rakuten TV original and exclusive content as well as a selection of movies) and Top Free (a selection that highlights the best films currently available on the platform).

“We are eager to contribute once again to the disruption of the entertainment industry with this major step on the growth and innovation on Rakuten TV, which aims to enrich our business model and content offer” stated Jacinto Roca, Founder and CEO at Rakuten TV. “At a time when the entertainment sector is living an unprecedented transformation, and consumption habits are constantly evolving, we are striving to adapt our business model to meet users and advertisers needs at once.”

This extensive offer will also broaden opportunities for advertisers, enabling them to place ad inventory across the enhanced portfolio of more than 90 free linear channels, with an estimated number of 1.5 billion ad impressions to be generated in 2021. Brands and agencies will be able to access this expanded ad inventory through Rakuten Advertising, and reach potential new customers in a brand-safe environment that leverages a powerful set of first-party data and audience insights. Bringing brands unique discoverability, this new opportunity combines the targeting and tracking capabilities of digital ad-formats with the beauty of big-screen vision.

This wide range of entertainment will be available on the Rakuten TV app, accessible on leading consumer electronics manufacturers Samsung and LG Smart TV devices. Users can easily launch the app with a single click through the branded remote-control button and the pre-installed app.

The launch of the linear channels will reinforce Rakuten TV’s unique proposition as the only European platform combining TVOD (transactional video-on-demand), AVOD (advertising video-on-demand) and SVOD (subscription video-on-demand) services. Rakuten TV is available in 43 European countries and currently reaches more than 90 million households thanks to its branded remote-control button and its pre-installed app top Smart TV manufacturers’ devices.

About Rakuten TV
Rakuten TV is the first Video On-Demand platform in Europe combining TVOD (Transactional video-on-demand), AVOD (Advertising video-on-demand) and SVOD (Subscription video-on-demand) services, providing users a universe of content just one click away. While Rakuten TV´s TVOD service provides a true cinematic experience with the latest new releases, the AVOD service offers a range of thematic channels for free, including Movies, Euronews, Kids TV, Viki, Documentaries and Rakuten Stories – a channel embodying Rakuten TV´s original and exclusive content. On the subscription side, the platform provides the international SVOD service, Starzplay, as a premium content provider of movies and TV series.

Rakuten TV is available in 43 European territories and forms part of Rakuten Group, Inc. one of the worlds’ leading internet services companies, offering a wide variety of services for consumers and businesses, with a focus on e-commerce, fintech and digital content. Rakuten, headquartered in Japan, is also known for its partnership with FC Barcelona, the NBA, the Golden State Warriors, Davis Cup and Spartan Race.

Press Queries:
Fernanda Perabeles
PR & Communications Specialist
fernanda.perabeles@rakuten.com

Charlie Wainright
Premier Comms
charlie.wainright@premiercomms.com

Esme Coe
Premier Comms
esme.coe@premiercomms.com