ViacomCBS Networks International and Rakuten Announce Streaming, Content and E-Commerce Partnership in Japan
Nick+ to launch in Japan on Rakuten TV
Rakuten to host Nickelodeon’s first-ever digital storefront in Asia on Japan’s leading e-commerce platform, Rakuten Ichiba
Tokyo, April 20, 2021 - ViacomCBS Networks International (VCNI), a unit of ViacomCBS Inc. (NASDAQ: VIAC) and Rakuten Group, Inc. today announced the signing of a broad long-term agreement, which includes the launch of Nick+, Nickelodeon’s kids’ streaming service, on Rakuten’s video-on-demand platform Rakuten TV in Japan, covering mobile, STB/dongle, web and Smart TV devices. The partnership also includes the creation of a dedicated Nickelodeon zone on Japan’s leading e-commerce platform, Rakuten Ichiba.
“This long-term agreement with Rakuten, a key player in the media and e-commerce industry, connects the world of streaming to the world of consumer products for the first time. The integration of Nick+ and the Nickelodeon digital storefront into the Rakuten Ecosystem will enable us to create an interconnected Nickelodeon experience for consumers and leverage strategic cross-platform promotional opportunities,” said Raffaele Annecchino, President & CEO of ViacomCBS Networks International. “This innovative deal is testament to ViacomCBS’ expertise in developing unique and versatile partnerships and it will allow us to explore additional collaboration opportunities outside of Asia.”
"We are very excited to partner with ViacomCBS Networks International to bring their iconic brands and top-tier content to new audiences through our streaming and e-commerce platforms," said Koji Ando, Rakuten Group Managing Executive Officer and Senior Vice President of Rakuten's Communications & Energy Company. "Through these new initiatives, families across the country will have even more reasons to engage with our services and enjoy the rich customer experience of the Rakuten Ecosystem. We look forward to building on this partnership to deliver even more entertaining content and initiatives in the future."
Nick+, a subscription service, is planned for launch on Rakuten TV on April 28, 2021, bringing many of the most popular series from the Nickelodeon library to Japanese audiences. Kids and families will be able to watch on demand favorite shows like SpongeBob SquarePants, PAW Patrol, Blaze and the Monster Machines, Bubble Guppies, Dora the Explorer, Blue's Clues & You!, Deer Squad, The Loud House, Game Shakers, The Thundermans and more.
In addition to hit kids and family entertainment via the Nick+ service, Rakuten will host the first-ever Nickelodeon digital storefront in Asia on the Rakuten Ichiba internet shopping mall in Japan. Showcasing a collection of select Nickelodeon products from multiple merchants, Japanese audiences will be able to easily purchase products featuring some of the brand’s most beloved characters from iconic franchises such as SpongeBob SquarePants, PAW Patrol, and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles on the new dedicated e-commerce zone on Rakuten Ichiba. Products will cover multiple categories, including fashion, stationery and collectibles.
Nick+ will be available on Rakuten TV's official site and mobile app, STB/dongle, web and Smart TV devices as of April 28, while the digital Nickelodeon storefront on Rakuten Ichiba is planned for launch in May 2021.
About ViacomCBS Networks International (VCNI)
ViacomCBS Networks International (VCNI), a unit of ViacomCBS Inc. (NASDAQ: VIAC), is comprised of many of the world’s most iconic consumer brands. Its portfolio includes Channel 5, Telefe, Network 10, Nickelodeon, MTV, Comedy Central, BET, Paramount Network, as well as streaming services Paramount+ and PlutoTV, and ViacomCBS International Studios, among others. In addition to offering innovative streaming services and digital video products, ViacomCBS Networks International provides powerful capabilities in production, distribution and advertising solutions for partners on five continents and across more than 180 countries.
About Rakuten
Rakuten Group, Inc. (TSE: 4755) is a global leader in internet services that empower individuals, communities, businesses and society. Founded in Tokyo in 1997 as an online marketplace, Rakuten has expanded to offer services in e-commerce, fintech, digital content and communications to approximately 1.4 billion members around the world. Rakuten has over 20,000 employees, and operations in 30 countries and regions. For more information visit https://global.rakuten.com/corp/.
About Rakuten TV
A live streaming and video-on-demand service provided by Rakuten offering users in Japan approximately 210,000 pieces of content covering movies, dramas, anime, sports, such as Pacific League Japanese pro baseball, and stage shows. The videos can be viewed on various devices, including smartphones, computers and TVs. Information on compatible devices can be found on the Rakuten TV official site: https://tv.rakuten.co.jp/static/guide/device
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Nick+ has been expanding into more international territories of late, particularly in Europe, where it launched in Germany on Deutsche Telekom’s OTT service MagentaTV, in Greece via Vodofone TV, and in Portugal via MEO, MEO GO and Vodafone. The service is also available in Canada through Corus Entertainment.
ViacomCBS announced the news on the first day of the APOS conference, which is being held virtually this year.
Following a 2019 merger of CBS Corp. and Viacom, ViacomCBS is the second incarnation of the U.S. media corporation that stretches from the Paramount Pictures movie studio to network television. Its Simon & Schuster book publishing unit is to be sold, pending regulatory approval.
Annecchino said that the reorganized group enjoys strength from: including both free and pay services; from operating globally-known brands such as Paramount, Showtime, CBS, Comedy Central and Nickelodeon; and from having a large production operation in Viacom Studios.
He said that corporate development will focus on streaming, studios and networks, with the addition of real-world partnerships in Asia.
The Pluto TV ad-supported VOD service is currently available in 25 markets and will be rolled out further. Premium SVOD service, Paramount Plus will be launched in Australia later this year, Annecchino said.
The corporation already owns free-to-air channel Network 10 in Australia, which it acquired in 2017. Annecchino said that owning a direct-to-consumer service and a linear channel in the same country enables shows to be optimized and moved between platforms.
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From Rakuten Today:
Rakuten and ViacomCBS team up to bring Nickelodeon content to Japan
Rakuten TV subscribers in Japan now have easy access to some of the funniest and most family-friendly entertainment from Nickelodeon.
Starting today, fans in Japan now have easy access to some of the funniest and most family-friendly entertainment from Nickelodeon’s stable of world-famous properties. Thanks to a recently-announced, wide-ranging partnership between Rakuten and ViacomCBS Networks International, the kids streaming service Nick+ is now available on Rakuten’s video-on-demand platform Rakuten TV, bringing world-class entertainment such as SpongeBob SquarePants, PAW Patrol and Dora the Explorer on demand to screens big and small.
And if all those new viewing options weren’t exciting enough (especially for Japanese parents with kids home for the Golden Week holiday), the partnership also includes the creation of Nickelodeon’s first-ever digital storefront in Asia on Rakuten Ichiba, Japan’s leading e-commerce platform.
"THROUGH THESE NEW INITIATIVES, FAMILIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY WILL HAVE EVEN MORE REASONS TO ENGAGE WITH OUR SERVICES AND ENJOY THE RICH CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE OF THE RAKUTEN ECOSYSTEM." - KOJI ANDO, RAKUTEN GROUP MANAGING EXECUTIVE OFFICER AND SVP OF RAKUTEN’S COMMUNICATIONS & ENERGY COMPANY
New and veteran Nickelodeon fans alike will be able to easily purchase Nickelodeon-branded merchandise based on beloved shows like Blue’s Clues & You!, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Bubble Guppies. The dedicated zone launches on Rakuten Ichiba in May 2021 and will offer Nickelodeon products from a variety of merchants, in categories including fashion, stationery and collectibles.
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| PAW Patrol is a pack of powered-up puppies who protect their home, Adventure Bay. |
Helping iconic content find new audiences
“This long-term agreement with Rakuten, a key player in the media and e-commerce industry, connects the world of streaming to the world of consumer products for the first time,” shared Raffaele Annecchino, President & CEO of ViacomCBS Networks International. “The integration of Nick+ and the Nickelodeon digital storefront into the Rakuten Ecosystem will enable us to create an interconnected Nickelodeon experience for consumers and leverage strategic cross-platform promotional opportunities. This innovative deal is testament to ViacomCBS’ expertise in developing unique and versatile partnerships and it will allow us to explore additional collaboration opportunities outside of Asia in the future.”
Koji Ando, Rakuten Group Managing Executive Officer and Senior Vice President of Rakuten’s Communications & Energy Company, commented, “We are very excited to partner with ViacomCBS Networks International to bring their iconic brands and top-tier content to new audiences through our streaming and e-commerce platforms.
"THE INTEGRATION OF NICK+ AND THE NICKELODEON DIGITAL STOREFRONT INTO THE RAKUTEN ECOSYSTEM WILL ENABLE US TO CREATE AN INTERCONNECTED NICKELODEON EXPERIENCE FOR CONSUMERS AND LEVERAGE STRATEGIC CROSS-PLATFORM PROMOTIONAL OPPORTUNITIES." - RAFFAELE ANNECCHINO, PRESIDENT & CEO OF VIACOMCBS NETWORKS INTERNATIONAL
“Through these new initiatives, families across the country will have even more reasons to engage with our services and enjoy the rich customer experience of the Rakuten Ecosystem. We look forward to building on this partnership to deliver even more entertaining content and initiatives in the future.”
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| Leonardo, Donatello, Raphael and Michelangelo: Pizza-loving ninjas who live in the sewers beneath New York City. |
A portable solution that keeps kids entertained and engaged
Some of the shows on offer, like The Loud House or Game Shakers, are geared toward a slightly older, elementary school crowd. Others, such as Deer Squad or Blaze and the Monster Machines are more targeted toward the preschool set.
Regardless of who’s watching, parents and caregivers can rest assured that kids are being given the opportunity to learn English and engage in problem solving, teamwork, STEM, and much more, in a fun and playful way.
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| Who lives in a pineapple under the sea? Hint: He’s yellow, absorbent and porous. |
The service is affordable, too. A month of Nick+ will cost subscribers only 440 yen per month — for reference, that’s less than the cost of a combo at most popular fast-food chains. And for anyone who’s curious about the world of Nickelodeon but hesitant to take the plunge, Nick+ offers a free 14-day trial to viewers signing up for the first time.
As SpongeBob himself once famously sang, “F is for friends who do stuff together. U is for you and me. N is for anywhere and anytime at all.” N is also for Nick+, which can now be enjoyed in Japan, anywhere and anytime at all.
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Originally published: Tuesday, April 20, 2021 at 19:24 BST.
