News

London, 20th September 2023 – A+E Networks EMEA announces the UK launch of its three free ad-supported TV (FAST) channels on Rakuten TV, one of the leading streaming platforms in Europe. 

The launch builds on A+E Networks EMEA’s expansion into the emerging FAST space and offers free access to A+E Networks EMEA’s library of programming for its three curated channels: Inside Crime, Mystery TV, and World War TV.

• Inside Crime goes behind the headlines of some of the world’s most notorious crimes, opening the door to real-life crime scenes, police archives, and courtrooms, inviting viewers to piece together the evidence and uncover the truth. The channel features hit series, including Nightmare in Suburbia Robbie Coltrane’s Critical Evidence, and Britain’s Darkest Taboos.
   
• Mystery TV delves into the world of the explained and the supernatural, featuring aliens, UFOs, and more, lifting the lid on government secrets, conspiracies, and cover-ups. Featured titles include Weird or What with William Shatner, Top Secret UFO Projects Declassified, and Legends of the Deep.
   
• World War TV explores the conflicts that brought us to the brink of disaster and the superpower stand-offs that imperil our world today.   

Content highlights include WW2 Treasure Hunters, featuring Suggs and WW2 detectorist Stephen Taylor and Hitler’s Gold and The Plane That Led D-Day. 

The launch of these FAST channels on Rakuten TV reinforces A+E Networks EMEA’s strategy to distribute its content onto new platforms.

Julie Mitchelmore, VP of Digital at A+E Networks EMEA, said: “We’re incredibly excited about partnering with Rakuten TV and further expanding the reach of our FAST channels. This launch reinforces A+E Networks EMEA’s strategy to distribute our content onto new platforms following the successful launches on Pluto, Amazon Freevee, Samsung TV and Virgin Media O2.” 

Rakuten TV is part of Rakuten Group, Inc., one of the world’s leading internet services companies, offering a wide range of services for consumers and businesses, focusing on e-commerce, fintech, digital content, and communications.  

Assets are available here: https://tinyurl.com/yst4sjcj 

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About A+E Networks EMEA

At A+E Networks EMEA, we share stories that matter everywhere, anywhere. A leader in factual entertainment, our compelling, award-winning content connects with millions across the UK, Nordics, Benelux, Germany, Italy, Spain, Central and Eastern Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. Our portfolio of premium brands – The HISTORY® Channel, Crime + Investigation®, HISTORY2®, BLAZE®, and COSMO TV® - inspire and excite viewers with hit franchises (Forged in Fire), must-see dramas (Vikings) and original commissions (The Hunt for Baltic Gold and Ross Kemp: Shipwreck Treasure Hunter). Our stories are global and local, linear and digital, and always compelling. With offices in London, Rome, Madrid, Warsaw, Munich, and Johannesburg, we are a truly international company that celebrates difference and diversity.

About Rakuten TV

Rakuten TV is one of the leading streaming platforms in Europe that combines TVOD (Transactional video-on-demand), AVOD (Advertising video-on-demand) and FAST channels (Free Ad-Supported Streaming TV) providing users with a universe of content and making the whole entertainment experience easier. In Spain, the company also provides an SVOD (Subscription video-on-demand) service.   

The TVOD service offers an authentic cinematic experience with the latest releases to buy or rent in high audio and video quality. The advertising-supported offering comprises AVOD and FAST services. The AVOD service features more than 10,000 titles available on-demand, including films, documentaries and series from Hollywood and local studios, as well as the catalogue with Original and Exclusive content. The FAST service consists of an extensive line-up of over 500 unique channels among which 100 Owned & Operated (O&O) across Europe, including free linear channels from global networks, top European broadcasters and media groups, and the platform’s own thematic channels with curated content. Rakuten TV is available in 43 European territories and currently reaches more than 140 million households via its branded remote-control button and pre-installed app in Smart TV devices.   

Press Contacts

A+E Networks EMEA

Barbara Pianca at A+E Networks EMEA | barbara.pianca@aenetworks.co.uk  | 07557 255769

Fabiana Cumia, Communications & ESG Director Rakuten TV, fabiana.cumia@rakuten.com