Rakuten TV anime distribution and licensing strategy: FAST channels and Japan VOD
Rakuten TV operates differently by region: a European FAST and AVOD service with anime channels, and a Japanese VOD platform with anime among its content categories.
Published: 2026-08-19. Updated: 2026-08-19.
Short answer: Rakuten TV distributes anime primarily through partnerships and channel carriage rather than direct global licensing. In France, it carries the Anime Digital Network channel among its free ad-supported streaming television line-up. In Japan, Rakuten TV's video-on-demand service offers approximately 210,000 pieces of content covering movies, dramas, anime, sports, and stage shows. The platform also partners with major content providers such as ViacomCBS Networks International, which launched the Nick+ kids' service on Rakuten TV in Japan in 2021.
How Rakuten TV distributes anime
Rakuten TV is a video-on-demand and FAST service owned by Rakuten Group. Its anime distribution strategy varies by market. In Europe, it licenses anime-focused FAST channels. In Japan, it operates a broader VOD service that includes anime as one of many content categories.
The platform does not position itself as a dedicated anime licensor. Instead, it aggregates content through channel deals and catalog partnerships, similar to other multi-genre VOD and FAST platforms.
Anime Digital Network on Rakuten TV in France
In November 2021, Rakuten TV announced the launch of 21 new channels across Spain, Italy, and France. In France, the new line-up included Anime Digital Network, along with Museum TV, My Zen TV, Universciné, Wild Side TV, Zylo's Emotion'L, and Ciné Nanar Channel.
This made ADN available as a FAST channel on Rakuten TV's French platform. The deal expanded Rakuten TV's free ad-supported channel portfolio and gave ADN another distribution point beyond its own direct service.
Rakuten TV in Japan
In Japan, Rakuten TV operates as a live streaming and video-on-demand service offering approximately 210,000 pieces of content. The catalog covers movies, dramas, anime, sports such as Pacific League Japanese pro baseball, and stage shows, viewable on smartphones, computers, and televisions.
Rakuten TV has also partnered with global content companies. In 2021, ViacomCBS Networks International and Rakuten announced a long-term agreement to launch Nick+, Nickelodeon's kids' streaming service, on Rakuten TV in Japan. The service launched on April 28, 2021, covering mobile, set-top box, web, and smart TV devices.
Rakuten TV anime distribution by region.| Market | Anime approach | Key partner or detail |
|---|
| France | FAST channel carriage | Anime Digital Network channel added in 2021 |
| Japan | VOD catalog category | Approximately 210,000 content items including anime |
| Japan | Kids SVOD partnership | Nick+ by ViacomCBS launched April 2021 |
Catalog versus exclusive distinction
Rakuten TV does not hold exclusive worldwide rights to anime series in the way Crunchyroll or Netflix do. Its European anime offering is channel-based, meaning it carries channels that may themselves license exclusive content.
In Japan, anime sits within a broad transactional or subscription VOD catalog. Titles are available alongside movies, dramas, and sports, rather than as a curated anime-exclusive service.
How Rakuten TV fits in the anime ecosystem
Rakuten TV sits at the platform and aggregation layer. It provides distribution reach, especially in Europe and Japan, while relying on partners to source and license anime content.
For anime rightsholders, Rakuten TV offers another carriage option, particularly for FAST channels. For viewers, it is a supplementary source rather than a primary anime destination.
Frequently asked questions
Does Rakuten TV have anime?
Yes, Rakuten TV carries anime, primarily as FAST channels in Europe and as part of its broader VOD catalog in Japan.
Is ADN available on Rakuten TV?
Yes, the Anime Digital Network channel joined Rakuten TV's French platform in November 2021.
What content does Rakuten TV offer in Japan?
Rakuten TV in Japan offers approximately 210,000 pieces of content including movies, dramas, anime, sports, and stage shows.
Does Rakuten TV license anime directly?
Public evidence does not show Rakuten TV licensing anime directly from Japanese rightsholders on a global basis. Its anime distribution is partner-driven.