Rakuten TV has rolled out 20 new free ad-supported streaming television channels across Europe, backed by a fresh content agreement with Sony Pictures Entertainment. The expansion brings a mix of classic television series, reality formats, and international dramas to viewers in Germany, Austria, and several other European markets.
Sony Pictures Catalog Powers New FAST Lineup
The newly launched free ad-supported streaming television channels feature prominent Sony content libraries. Among the additions are dedicated channels such as Comedy TV, which houses retro hits like Seinfeld and The Nanny.
They sit alongside Thriller TV, featuring serialized favorites including Breaking Bad and The Good Doctor, as reported by Teltarif.
Genre-Specific Sitcoms and Unscripted Franchises
Additional genre-specific channels include Best of. This brings classics like Eine schrecklich nette Familie and Drei Engel für Charlie to screens.
The rollout also incorporates localized versions of popular unscripted international franchises. These include Dragon’s Den in the United Kingdom and Shark Tank in Spain, alongside syndicated dramas like The Blacklist.
Tailored Regional Availability Across Europe
While the broader agreement spans multiple European territories, programming availability varies by region. According to platform statements covered by Teltarif, Rakuten TV has tailored the distribution so that German-speaking regions receive localized content featuring German synchronization. In contrast, Scandinavian markets receive the films and television series in English.
Certain localized editions—such as Italian broadcasts of Bewitched or localized iterations of Who Wants To Be A Millionaire—remain restricted to their respective national markets rather than rolling out universally across the entire 20-channel batch.
Executive Perspectives on the FAST Market
Marcos Milanez, Chief Content Officer at Rakuten TV, noted that audiences increasingly turn to FAST channels as a primary destination when programming is tailored and relevant to local markets. He emphasized that the deal strengthens existing transactional and advertising-supported partnerships with Sony.
Peter Wood, EVP, Consumer Platforms & Services at Sony Pictures Entertainment, added that the collaboration expands audience access to Sony’s premium television catalog through structured, ad-supported environments. The launch coincides with broader industry trends, including similar expansions by competing free television providers like waipu.tv.
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