Rakuten TV launches over 90 free linear channels
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.