RAKUTEN TV EXPANDS PARTNERSHIP WITH MATTEL TO LAUNCH BARBIE & FRIENDS IN UK & IRELAND

Rakuten TV has announced an expanded partnership with Mattel, Inc. (NASDAQ: MAT), a leading global play and family entertainment company and owner of one of the most iconic brand portfolios in the world, marking the official launch of a new FAST channel in the UK.

Barbie & Friends: A curated FAST channel anchored by the iconic Barbie® brand and expanded with beloved Mattel franchises including Monster High®, Enchantimals® and Polly Pocket®. Celebrating friendship, creativity and self-expression, the channel is designed to captivate family audiences of all ages. Barbie & Friends is now available in the UK and Ireland.

This expansion deepens a partnership first announced last year, which brought Mattel’s iconic brands to Rakuten TV’s Family FAST channel and AVOD library across Europe. With today’s announcement, Rakuten TV takes that collaboration to a new level, with the development and distribution of two new FAST channels based on two of the most iconic names in family entertainment. Rakuten TV is now programming and distributing these new channels across many of Europe’s primary markets.

Marcos Milanez, Chief Content Officer at Rakuten TV, commented: “The expansion of our partnership with Mattel marks a pivotal moment for Rakuten TV’s FAST strategy in Europe. Taking responsibility for the programming and distribution of the channels for these beloved brands is not only a milestone in terms of content, but also a clear signal of the direction premium free-to-air streaming is taking. We’re not just adding channels: we’re building a scalable, audience-centric model that sets a new benchmark for FAST in Europe.”

This launch reinforces Rakuten TV’s position as a leading AVOD and FAST platform in Europe, combining proprietary channel development with a growing portfolio of high-recognition family brands. Rakuten TV will operate these two new fast channels to engage audiences directly on-platform and to serve as a compelling content offering for third-party distribution partners seeking premium, brand-safe family entertainment.