UK-based news giant The Guardian has announced the launch of its first branded streaming channel on the OTT platform Rakuten TV. The new channel will offer Rakuten TV users a range of Guardian content including short films, documentaries, and original series.
The new launch represents the first time The Guardian will have ever released a channel on any streaming service, not just Rakuten TV. According to a recent press release the new channel will be offered in a total of 43 countries, reaching over 110 million households.
“At the Guardian, we have always sought to make our journalism available to people around the world. Through this new agreement with Rakuten TV, we hope to broaden the distribution of Guardian content even further and make a selection of our brilliant video series and documentaries even more discoverable," said Robert Hahn, director of business affairs & platform partnerships, Guardian News & Media.
Image Credit: Rakuten
What's Driving This Trend
- Journalism-focused Streaming Channels
- The rise of branded journalism channels on OTT platforms creates opportunities for news outlets to expand their reach and offer unique perspectives on news and current events.
- Global Distribution of News Content
- The ability of streaming platforms to reach households in multiple countries allows for news outlets to expand their audience and share their content on a global scale.
- Original Content Creation by News Outlets
- Creating original content like short films and documentaries offers news outlets an innovative way to showcase their journalism and expand their offerings beyond traditional news reporting.
Who This Affects Most
- Media & Entertainment
- OTT platforms are disrupting the traditional methods of distributing news and media content, creating a new industry of streaming services for news outlets.
- Journalism
- The rise of branded journalism channels on streaming platforms is disrupting the industry and presenting news outlets with new opportunities to reach a wider audience.
- Technology
- Streaming platforms like Rakuten TV are disrupting traditional media and journalism models by offering new avenues for distribution through technology.
