The Rakuten group plans to integrate its video operations in Europe (Wuaki), Japan (Showtime) and the US (Viki).
This will be the next step in its strategy following the rebrand of Wuaki.tv as Rakuten.tv in July, which was reported late last week in Spain by the local media.
The rebrand of the film and series streaming service, which is currently available in 12 European countries, will coincide with the start of a sponsorship agreement between Rakuten and FC Barcelona, worth some €60 million a season.
Showtime and Viki will also be rebranded Rakuten.tv, with all three operations being coordinated out of Barcelona.
Wuaki was founded by Jacinto Roca and Josep Mitjà in 2007 and acquired by Japan’s Rakuten in 2012.
As previously reported by Broadband TV News, Wuaki.tv had 4 million users in the 12 European countries it operates in at the end of 2016, or 1 million more than a year earlier.
Its revenues grew by 50% in the 12 countries in 2016.
