Rakuten TV Launches its AVOD Service in Europe
15.10.2019 11:30:00 EEST | Business Wire | Press release
Rakuten TV, one of the leading video-on-demand platforms in Europe, today announced the launch of its first AVOD - ad-supported video-on-demand - channels within the platform. This new business model will allow viewers to watch a wide range of content for free.
This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20191015005048/en/
Rakuten TV's new UI 4.0 including "Free" section (Photo: Rakuten TV)
The free section of Rakuten TV will launch with an initial offer including Hollywood and local content to be expanded to additionally include exclusive Rakuten content, TV series, documentary series, news and sport channels in the coming months - with a combined linear and on-demand offer.
Among the exclusive content, Rakuten TV will present on its AVOD channel Matchday - Inside FC Barcelona, the new documentary series about FC Barcelona from the inside, offering previously unseen and exclusive scenes from the players’ private lives. Narrated by John Malkovich, Matchday – Inside FC Barcelona is a creation of Barça Studios, FC Barcelona’s own production house, in collaboration with Kosmos Studios, Rakuten, Inc. in association with Rakuten H Collective Studio and Producciones del Barrio.
Expanding its business model proposition, Rakuten TV will be the first to combine TVOD and AVOD products across Europe, meeting the changing needs of viewers. The free ad-supported channels will enrich the original proposition of Rakuten TV - Your Cinema at Home - offering Smart TV viewers the best cinematic experience with the latest new releases in the best audiovisual quality. Thanks to the presence of a remote control button providing direct access to the app on major Smart TVs, Rakuten TV content will be just a click away for over 30 million households across Europe.
In a time when the streaming industry is increasingly changing and exploring avenues such as AVOD, Rakuten TV is proud to pioneer this trend in Europe as the main VOD platform combining different business models - TVOD, AVOD and SVOD - which are oriented around meeting all audience needs.
Jacinto Roca, Rakuten TV Founder and CEO, stated: “We are incredibly proud to take this step after having tripled our presence in Europe just a few months ago. Rakuten TV continues to evolve rapidly alongside consumer trends within the industry, where there is a clear trend of advertisers moving away from linear TV and towards VOD. This is a unique opportunity for Rakuten TV which has already direct access to millions of European households through its branded remote control button of the main Smart TV brands. This is the mere beginning of a huge project which will see the launch of additional channels and exclusive content in the coming months”.
The service will be available in beta version, across the complete 2019 SMART TV line up, and will be progressively rolled out in other platforms including mobile and desktop.
Advertising sales will be managed by Rakuten Marketing, a subsidiary of Rakuten Inc. Nick Stamos, Rakuten Marketing CEO, stated: “Advertisers and agencies are eager to be among the first to showcase their brands in this exclusive and groundbreaking advertising platform. As VOD is emerging as a powerful media channel, our clients have been anticipating this launch from RakutenTV, so we are very excited to bring this new proposition to market across Europe.”
Rakuten Viber, Rakuten’s instant messaging service, will also be involved in the project, leveraging its community of 2 million Barça fans to promote Matchday.
Nielsen will be the data partner (DMP-data management platform) used to target advertisements at a digital level
This news comes alongside a renewed platform design for Rakuten TV, with a more attractive look & feel, a more intuitive user interface and a simpler user journey. Within the new interface, viewers will discover the new channel offering featuring ad-supported content inside the ‘free’ section implemented within the header menu.
The announcement took place during the conference “AVOD on the Rise” at MIPCOM 2019, where Founder and CEO of Rakuten TV, Jacinto Roca, spoke about the AVOD industry and its evolution with other top players in the entertainment field.
Rakuten TV
Rakuten TV is one of the leading Video On-Demand platforms in Europe. It offers a TVOD service (Transactional VOD) providing viewers a true cinematic experience with the latest new releases in the best audiovisual quality. It also includes an AVOD (Advertising VOD) section, Rakuten TV Free, in a blend of thematic channels embracing Hollywood classics, local, exclusive and themed content, all for free.
Rakuten TV is available in 42 countries and forms part of Rakuten, Inc., one of the world’s 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 partnerships with FC Barcelona, the NBA, the Golden State Warriors, Davis Cup and Spartan Race.
To view this piece of content from cts.businesswire.com, please give your consent at the top of this page.
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20191015005048/en/
Contact information
Media Contacts:
For further information please contact:
Premier PR – Rakuten TV
Charlie Wainwright - Premier PR on behalf of Rakuten TV
charlie.wainwright@premiercomms.com
0207 292 7372
Rakuten TV
Fabiana Cumia – Communication Director – fabiana.cumia@rakuten.com
Iraia Arza – PR & Communication Specialist – iraia.arza@rakuten.com
About Business Wire
For more than 50 years, Business Wire has been the global leader in press release distribution and regulatory disclosure.
Subscribe to releases from Business Wire
Subscribe to all the latest releases from Business Wire by registering your e-mail address below. You can unsubscribe at any time.
Latest releases from Business Wire
Incyte Announces Positive CHMP Opinion for Zynyz ® (retifanlimab) for First-Line Treatment of Advanced Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Anal Canal (SCAC)30.1.2026 16:29:00 EET | Press release
Incyte (Nasdaq:INCY) today announced that the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) of the European Medicines Agency (EMA) has issued a positive opinion recommending the approval of Zynyz® (retifanlimab) in combination with carboplatin and paclitaxel (platinum-based chemotherapy) for the first-line treatment of adult patients with metastatic or with inoperable locally recurrent squamous cell carcinoma of the anal canal (SCAC). “Today’s positive CHMP opinion is an important step towards addressing the urgent need for new treatment options for patients in Europe with advanced SCAC, a disease which has seen limited innovation for decades,” said Lee Heeson, Executive Vice President and Head of Incyte International. “If approved, Zynyz in combination with platinum-based chemotherapy has the potential to become a new standard-of-care for patients living with this rare and difficult-to-treat cancer.” The positive CHMP opinion was based on data from the Phase 3 POD1UM-303/Inter
Mediawan to Acquire The North Road Company, Creating a New Global Independent Content Platform30.1.2026 14:32:00 EET | Press release
Mediawan, the leading independent European studio led by Pierre-Antoine Capton, co-founded by Capton, Xavier Niel and Matthieu Pigasse, today announced the signing of an agreement to acquire The North Road Company (“North Road”), the preeminent independent U.S.-based studio founded by Peter Chernin. The combination creates one of the world’s largest independent studios with major creative hubs in the five continents and capabilities spanning all genres, formats and audiences. Together, Mediawan and North Road will have a stronger ability to accelerate the development of powerful IP, foster fresh creative synergies through format adaptations and co-production opportunities, and deliver ever greater value to viewers, talent and partners worldwide. The acquisition brings together two of the most dynamic independent studios in the sector with world-class creative talent, premium IP, and the scale to deliver content at the highest level. In an industry undergoing significant consolidation,
BrightSign Powers Intelligent Signage Experiences at ISE 202630.1.2026 10:00:00 EET | Press release
With more industries embracing the power of visual storytelling, BrightSign, the provider of the most advanced, capable, and trusted digital media players and operating system, will showcase the latest developments in digital signage technology at ISE 2026 in Barcelona, Spain from February 3-6, 2026. BrightSign’s latest innovations come to life at booth #4S-150 through interactive real-world demos featuring retail, QSR, transportation, and corporate use cases. Visitors can test new AI-powered object detection capabilities of BrightSign players, allowing them to pick up an object and see the content on the screen respond immediately. Booth activations will be powered by BrightSign’s reliable platform including bsn.Control, BrightSignOS™, brightAuthor connected, and its global partner ecosystem. “In today’s immersive, personalized and visual world, the stakes have never been higher for powerful, secure, reliable, and intelligent digital signage,” said Steve Durkee, chief executive office
Candela Ushers in a New Era of Aesthetic Innovation at IMCAS Paris With the Launch of the Glacē™ System30.1.2026 09:30:00 EET | Press release
Candela, a global leader in energy-based aesthetic technologies, today announced the European launch of the Glacē™ System, a facial treatment platform that signals a bold new chapter for the company and the future of aesthetic medicine. In addition to the launch of the Glacē System, Candela will also showcase its Matrix system for radiofrequency-based skin renewal and its iconic Vbeam® Pro vascular treatment platform at IMCAS 2026. Both Matrix and VBeam Pro platforms are currently available in select EMEA markets and are expected to be comprehensively launched shortly, further strengthening Candela’s leadership in the energy-based device market. Unveiled at the IMCAS World Congress 2026, these launches underscore Candela’s continued commitment to delivering innovative, science-backed treatment solutions for high-demand patient needs. Candela leads the industry in clinical efficacy and safety, supported by one of the largest bodies of published clinical data backed by decades of clinica
Merz Therapeutics Appoints Dan Staner as President, Region Europe30.1.2026 09:00:00 EET | Press release
Merz Therapeutics today announced the appointment of Dan Staner as President, Region Europe, effective February 1, 2026. In this role, Dan will oversee the company’s European business and drive regional growth. Dan will report directly to Merz Therapeutics Chief Executive Officer, Stefan König, and will join the Therapeutics Executive Team. His appointment reflects the company’s continued commitment to strengthening its leadership capabilities and accelerating its growth strategy across key European markets. “Dan brings a strong track record of building and scaling biopharmaceutical businesses across Europe,” said Stefan König, CEO of Merz Therapeutics. “His deep commercial, strategic, and regional leadership experience will be instrumental in advancing our growth ambitions, expanding patient access to our therapies, and further strengthening our presence in Europe. We are very pleased to welcome Dan to Merz Therapeutics.” Throughout his career, Dan has held senior leadership roles i
In our pressroom you can read all our latest releases, find our press contacts, images, documents and other relevant information about us.
Visit our pressroom