Wuaki.TV founder upped to parent firm role

The CEO and founder of Wuaki.TV, Jacinto Roca, has been named executive officer at the SVOD platform’s parent company, Rakuten.

This new role will see him coordinating Rakuten’s digital video operations in several regions, though he will remain as CEO of Wuaki, a spokesman confirmed.

The expanded role will include strategically aligning the expanding Wuaki with San Francisco-based TV site Viki, and a Japanese VOD service called Showtime that offers Asian TV shows and movies.

Roca (pictured) founded Barcelona-based Wuaki in 2009 and sold it to Japanese internet firm Rakuten in 2012. The operation then expanded into seven territories, and will be in 12 European countries by year-end.

Using a montly subscription model, Wuaki offers TV and film programming from the major US studios and European distribution companies.

Earlier this month, TBI reported Wuaki had hooked up with Paris-based media group Lagardère to launch a kids-focused SVOD service in France.