Rakuten TV is expanding its international presence, announcing the launch of its Rakuten TV Enterprise division in the United States, the Middle East and Japan.
The announcement was made on October 12 at MIPCOM 2026 in Cannes by CEO Cédric Dufour, during his Innovation Lab panel, FAST Beyond Borders: Rakuten TV on What It Takes to Scale Into New Global Markets.
For the Barcelona-based company, this marks its first expansion beyond Europe through its B2B offering, designed to help businesses launch, manage and monetize FAST (Free Ad-Supported Streaming Television) channels.
First introduced at MIPCOM in 2024, Rakuten TV Enterprise has gradually evolved into a comprehensive suite of services covering content distribution, channel management, technical integration and advertising monetization.
The international expansion follows a period of consolidation in the European market, where Rakuten TV has developed more than 120 owned-and-operated FAST channels, featuring content from Hollywood studios as well as local broadcasters and rights holders.
“The expansion of Rakuten TV into the US, Middle East and Japan through our B2B offering marks a significant new chapter for the company”
said Dufour, emphasizing that the division’s growth over the past two years has created the conditions to bring its technology, infrastructure and expertise into new markets.
United States and Middle East: New FAST Channels Dedicated to Movies
In the United States, widely regarded as the world’s most developed and competitive FAST market, Rakuten TV aims to differentiate its offering through a curated selection of Hollywood productions and European films.
The first channels to launch are Rakuten TV Comedy and Rakuten TV Action, both already available on TCLtv+. The company plans to gradually expand distribution to additional platforms, offering programming designed to complement existing catalogs in the US market.
A similar strategy will be adopted in the Middle East, where the company has identified opportunities for growth in channels dedicated to Western cinema.
By the end of 2026, Rakuten TV Top Movies and Rakuten TV Action will be available in the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia through TCLtv+ and TCL Channel
while viewers in the UAE will also be able to access them through LG Channels.
Programming will feature English-language films with subtitles tailored to local audiences. The company is also exploring the possibility of developing additional channels focused on specific film genres or individual intellectual properties.
Rakuten TV Enterprise Focuses on Technical Integration in Japan
A different approach has been chosen for Japan, where the expansion is not primarily focused on launching proprietary channels but rather on providing technology services.
Rakuten Group, the Japan-based parent company of Rakuten TV, has selected Rakuten TV Enterprise as the technical integration partner for FAST channel distribution on its R Channels platform.
The agreement represents an important step in the evolution of the B2B division, which aims to position itself not only as a content distributor but also as a provider of infrastructure and technology solutions for streaming operators.
This strategy allows Rakuten TV Enterprise to adapt its business model to the characteristics of individual markets: channel distribution in the United States and the Middle East, and technical integration services in Japan.
More Than 500 FAST Channels Across 43 Countries: The International Growth Strategy
The expansion announced at MIPCOM 2026 is part of a broader strategy to strengthen Rakuten TV Enterprise as a technology and commercial partner for content owners, broadcasters, telecommunications operators and connected-TV manufacturers.
According to figures released by the company, Rakuten TV currently manages more than 500 FAST channels across 43 countries, building on over fifteen years of experience in developing proprietary streaming technologies.
The Enterprise division offers services ranging from FAST channel creation and distribution to video application management and advertising monetization solutions.
Entering these new markets therefore represents an evolution of the company’s business model, complementing its direct-to-consumer content distribution activities with a B2B business serving international industry partners.
“This expansion is just the beginning of what we can achieve with Rakuten TV Enterprise”
concluded Cédric Dufour, identifying the combination of technological expertise and an understanding of local markets as a key driver of the company’s future growth.
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