Rakuten TV Expands Their Partnership With Mattel To Launch Barbie & Friends In The UK & Ireland
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Carl Roberts 
The Barbie & Friends channel has officially launched across the UK & Ireland. This reinforces Rakuten TV’s position as the home of premium free family entertainment.
Rakuten TV has announced an expanded partnership with Mattel, Inc. (NASDAQ: MAT), a leading global play and family entertainment company. Mattel is also the owner of one of the most iconic brand portfolios in the world. This marks the official launch of a new FAST channel in the UK.
Barbie & Friends: A curated FAST channel anchored by the iconic Barbie brand and expanded with beloved Mattel franchises, including Monster High, Enchantimals, and Polly Pocket. Celebrating friendship, creativity, and self-expression, the channel is designed to captivate family audiences of all ages. Barbie & Friends is now available in the UK and Ireland.
AN EXPANSION
This expansion deepens a partnership first announced last year, which brought Mattel’s iconic brands to Rakuten TV’s Family FAST channel and AVOD library across Europe. With today’s announcement, Rakuten TV takes that collaboration to a new level, with the development and distribution of two new FAST channels based on two of the most iconic names in family entertainment. Rakuten TV is now programming and distributing these new channels across many of Europe’s primary markets.
MARCOS MILANEZ
Marcos Milanez, Chief Content Officer at Rakuten TV, commented:
“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 beloved brands is not only a milestone in terms of content but also a clear 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 in Europe.”
This launch reinforces Rakuten TV’s position as a leading AVOD and FAST platform in Europe. It combines proprietary channel development with a growing portfolio of high-recognition family brands. Rakuten TV will operate these two new fast channels to engage audiences directly on-platform. In addition, the channels will serve as a compelling content offering for third-party distribution partners seeking premium, brand-safe family entertainment.
Barbie & Friends is now available on Rakuten TV in the UK and Ireland.
Introducing Carl! As the News Editor at Future of the Force, Carl has been an invaluable member of our team since early 2016. His expertise and dedication have made him an integral part of our editorial staff. Beyond his professional role, Carl is a fervent supporter of Liverpool F.C. and an avid follower of pop culture. He has a deep passion for Halloween, Friday the 13th, and the iconic movie franchises Star Wars and Star Trek.
He can be found either at his neighborhood cinema, enjoying the latest releases on the big screen, or at home streaming the newest blockbuster movies.
