InsideSport: Rakuten launches documentary series with ex-Barcelona star Andres Iniesta

Saturday 29 September 2018

Rakuten launches documentary series with ex-Barcelona star Andres Iniesta

Japanese e-commerce giant Rakuten is set to launch a documentary television series featuring Spanish football icon Andres Iniesta, focusing on his life in Japan following his move from Barcelona to the Japanese J1 League club Vissel Kobe this year.

Rakuten owns Vissel Kobe, while also being the official shirt sponsor of Barcelona, where Iniesta played 442 games over a 16-year stint winning nine LaLiga titles, six Copa del Ray titles, four Champions League titles and three FIFA Club World Cup titles among others.

Iniesta’s move to Kobe was financed by the Japanese company.

The documentary series, produced by Rakuten, will be aired on Rakuten Viki, a video streaming website headquartered in Palo Alto, California in the heart of Silicon Valley. The company, founded in 2007, was acquired by Rakuten in September 2013 in a deal reportedly worth $200 million.

According to Rakuten, the first episode of the exclusive series will include an interview with Rakuten chief executive Hiroshi Mikitani. The content will be available on Rakuten Viki in English, Spanish, and Japanese, with new episodes and articles to be added regularly. At the launch of the series, viewers will be able to enjoy a selection of free and paid content.

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Viewers are asked to subscribe to “Viki Pass,” a premium subscription plan that offers unlimited access to the full range of Rakuten Viki content available in the user’s region in high definition, without advertising.

Iniesta has shared a link on his personal Twitter account to video streaming platform Viki, where the programme will be available to watch on a channel also given the name Iniesta TV. The website also features articles about the Spanish soccer legend.