Rakuten TV has announced an expanded partnership with toy/content company Mattel, owner of one of the most iconic brand portfolios in the world, marking the official launch of two new FAST channels across Europe. Rakuten TV is now programming and distributing these new channels across many of Europe’s primary markets.
The new channels are:
Barbie & Friends: A curated FAST channel anchored by the iconic Barbie brand and expanded with Mattel franchises including Monster High, Enchantimals and Polly Pocket (now available in Portugal, the Netherlands, Germany, the UK and Ireland).
Pingu: A channel for Pingu, one of animation’s most enduring characters. Featuring the complete Pingu series in a dialogue-free stream that transcends language and borders, Pingu is available in Portugal, France, Spain, Italy and Germany.
This expansion deepens a partnership first announced last year, which brought Mattel’s brands to Rakuten TV’s Family FAST channel and AVOD library.
Marcos Milanez, chief content officer at Rakuten TV, said: “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 brands is not only a milestone in terms of content, but also a 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.”
