- Starting April 23, the documentary will be available for free on Rakuten TV in Europe, Rakuten TV and Rakuten Sports in Japan, and Rakuten Sports and Rakuten Viki in the U.S. and Southeast Asia.
- The new film shares an intimate look at the life of world-renowned footballer Andrés Iniesta and includes exclusive interviews with globally renowned football stars Messi, Neymar, Suárez, Guardiola, Xavi and more.
Tokyo, April 16, 2020 – Andres Iniesta – The Unexpected Hero, the new original documentary produced by Rakuten TV, will arrive on Rakuten TV, Rakuten Sports and Rakuten Viki on April 23. This is the first official documentary about the football legend Andrés Iniesta, and features unpublished content reflecting on the major milestones in his career and personal life.
The documentary focuses on Iniesta’s life and incredible career, spanning the beginning of his path at Barcelona Youth Academy until his arrival at Vissel Kobe in Japan. Alongside testimonials directly from Iniesta and his family, the documentary brings together tributes from globally renowned football players such as Lionel Messi, Neymar, Luis Suárez, Pep Guardiola and Xavier Hernández.
Andrés Iniesta – The Unexpected Hero
Rakuten TV produced Iniesta in collaboration with leading Spanish production company Producciones del Barrio, which is led by Jordi Évole and Ramón Lara. The documentary is scripted by journalist Marcos López, who has closely followed Iniesta’s career, authoring the players’ official biography, The Artist: Being Iniesta. The original idea was created by Sports&Life agency, which represents Iniesta.
The documentary will be released globally, starting with Europe, Japan, the United States and Southeast Asia*1. In Europe, the documentary will be exclusively available for free on the AVOD (ad-supported video-on-demand) section of Rakuten TV, one of the leading VOD platforms in the European market. In Japan, the documentary will be available on Rakuten TV and Rakuten Sports, the Rakuten Group’s global live streaming, video on demand and community platform that powers live sports matches from top leagues and includes the original series Iniesta TV, and in the U.S. and Southeast Asia on Rakuten Sports and Rakuten Viki, the Rakuten Group’s global video streaming service providing content translated by a volunteer community of fans. Global distribution will follow via Rakuten content partners.
The documentary further cements the close relationship Rakuten enjoys with Andres Iniesta, following his transfer to Rakuten Group team Vissel Kobe in Japan in 2018.
*1 Singapore release on Rakuten Sports to follow at a later date.
About Rakuten
Rakuten, Inc. (TSE: 4755) is a global leader in internet services that empower individuals, communities, businesses, and society. Founded in Tokyo in 1997 as an online marketplace, Rakuten has expanded to offer services in e-commerce, fintech, digital content, and communications to approximately 1.4 billion members around the world.
The Rakuten Group has over 20,000 employees and operations in 30 countries and regions. For more information visit https://global.rakuten.com/corp/.
About Rakuten TV
Rakuten TV is one of the leading Video-On-Demand platforms in Europe. It offers a TVOD service (Transactional VOD) providing viewers a true cinematic experience with the latest new releases in the best audiovisual quality. It also includes an AVOD (Advertising VOD) section, Rakuten TV Free, in a blend of thematic channels embracing Hollywood classics, local, exclusive and themed content, all for free.
The TV is available in 42 countries and forms part of Rakuten, Inc., one of the world’s leading internet services companies, offering a wide variety of services for consumers and businesses, with a focus on e-commerce, fintech and digital content. Rakuten, headquartered in Japan, is also known for its partnerships with FC Barcelona, the NBA, the Golden State Warriors, Davis Cup and Spartan Race.
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