If you use Rakuten TV in Europe and want more free family viewing, two new channels just arrived. The platform just launched Barbie & Friends and Pingu on July 1, 2026.
These will be free ad-supported live TV channels across selected European markets. They are not rolling out in the same countries, so the first thing to check is where you live.
Where each new channel is live
Barbie & Friends has launched in:
- UK
- Ireland
- Germany
- Netherlands
- Portugal
Pingu, on the other hand, is available in:
- France
- Germany
- Italy
- Portugal
- Spain
The above country split shows how Rakuten is handling this rollout. It is not opening one big kids’ package across all of Europe at once. It is placing each brand market by market. The reason could be that rights, demand, and channel performance can vary a lot by country.
What you get on Barbie & Friends
The TV station is not only about Barbie. It also pulls in other Mattel brands. These are Monster High, Enchantimals, and Polly Pocket.
So if you open the channel expecting one nonstop Barbie feed, the lineup is more all-around than that. It is built more like a themed family channel than a single-show loop.
This gives the channel a better chance of holding your attention for longer stretches.
What you get on Pingu
This channel is more focused. It is a Rakuten dedicated channel built around the complete Pingu series in a continuous stream. Hence, it is closer to a classic single-IP FAST channel.
There is one reason this TV station travels well across borders. It is dialogue-free. You do not need dubbing or subtitles to follow it, which is why it is in several countries.
How to open Rakuten TV for free
You do not need a paid subscription for these channels. They sit inside Rakuten TV Free, which is the service’s ad-supported section.
On a smart TV app, Rakuten TV Free and Live TV are available without an account. For other devices, including the website and many mobile or connected-device setups, you need to log in or register first to get access.
On a smart TV, you can usually open Rakuten TV and go straight into the free section. On web or mobile, there is one more step.
The devices that work with Rakuten TV Free
Rakuten TV Free reaches a long list of devices. The supported lineup includes:
- Samsung and LG TVs
- Philips sets from 2019 on and Philips Android TVs
- Panasonic TVs
- Hisense TVs
- Sony Linux TVs from 2020 on plus Sony Android TVs
- Roku devices
- Fire TV
- Apple TV
- Chromecast
- Android TV
- TCL Android TVs
- Xiaomi TVs
- PS4
- PS5
- Web
- Android phone
- iPhone
- iPad
- TiVo
- Virgin Media set-top boxes.