Rakuten TV unveils new FAST channels

Leading streaming platform, Rakuten TV has unveiled a new pair of FAST channels launched among the UK and European territories.

Announced today at MIPTV’s FAST Summit, the company enters the TV Series landscape with the launch of reality/factual entertainment channel in the UK and crime series channels in DACH, France, Italy and Spain.

The reality and factual entertainment channel, Real Series debuted in the UK on April 12. Real Series will feature shows such as culinary bootcamp series Worst Cooks in America, the Paris Hilton reality show My New BFF and the Emmy-winning format Undercover Boss.

The Series Crime channel which also launched on April 12 in Italy, including British detective series Wallander and Kelsey Grammer’s Boss.

Roll out to other countries is expected to launch across the following months, with programming to vary depending on each market. All channels will be available on the Rakuten TV platform but also on Samsung’s TV Plus service, with more FAST platforms to follow.

According to the company the launch positions Rakuten TV in not only being a platform for premium content via various offerings (TVOD, AVOD & FAST), but also as a channel programmer, by packaging and curating the best and most relevant content for each market.

Rakuten TV’s CEO Cedric Dufour speaking at the MIP’s FAST Summit said: “FAST & AVOD currently represent a significant portion of our business, with healthy double digit YoY growth. This is a result of both our CTV Ad Sales expertise through our sister-company Rakuten Advertising, but also due to a locally relevant and top-notch quality content being offered for free to millions of our users.”

“Aside from our FAST channels line-up and the Rakuten TV Originals being offered to all 43 countries in Europe, we will also continue to invest in Original productions, due to their exclusive appeal and strong engagement with new users,” he added.