The big picture
Lionsgate (NYSE: LION) has sold Lionsgate Play, its streaming platform in South Asia and Southeast Asia, to Rohit Jain, the executive who built and scaled the platform over the past eight years as president of Lionsgate Play Asia.
Jain will fully transition to managing Lionsgate Play and will exit Lionsgate as part of the deal.
Lionsgate’s film and television businesses in India and Southeast Asia will remain with the studio.
What’s changing
The transaction places Lionsgate Play under independent, founder-led ownership with a singular focus on Asia’s evolving streaming audience.
Under a multiyear agreement, Lionsgate will continue to license the Lionsgate Play brand to the platform.
The studio will also provide access to its film and television library, allowing Lionsgate Play to keep scaling in the region.
What they’re saying
Lionsgate COO Brian Goldsmith praised Jain’s leadership in expanding the company’s footprint in Asia.
“Under his stewardship, the Lionsgate brand has gained greater resonance with audiences in South Asia and Southeast Asia, and Lionsgate Play has emerged as a distinctive premium streaming platform,” Goldsmith said.
He added that Jain’s deep understanding of the Asia market positions the platform for its next growth phase.
Jain, meanwhile, credited Lionsgate leadership for giving him the freedom to build the business.
“Lionsgate Play has established itself as a leading destination for Hollywood content in India and is now positioned to expand well beyond that,” Jain said.
What’s next
With continued access to Lionsgate content and a sharper regional focus, Lionsgate Play aims to evolve into a future-ready streaming platform tailored to Asia’s rapidly changing digital entertainment landscape. —Ed: Corrie S. Narisma
