Rohit Jain buys Lionsgate Play streaming business in South and Southeast Asia

Economic Times
Economic Times
3h ago
Lionsgate sold its Lionsgate Play OTT streaming business in South Asia and Southeast Asia to Rohit Jain in a deal estimated at up to $30 million.
Rohit Jain buys Lionsgate Play streaming business in South and Southeast Asia
A What happened
Rohit Jain, President of Lionsgate Play Asia, will take full ownership of Lionsgate Play in South Asia and Southeast Asia and will exit Lionsgate as part of the transaction. The deal value was estimated at $20–30 million, with an upfront payment and the balance paid in multiple tranches. Lionsgate will continue to own and operate its film and television distribution business in India and Southeast Asia, and will license the Lionsgate Play brand name and provide access to its film and television catalogue under a multi-year agreement. The platform has around 5 million paid subscribers, and sources familiar with the business said Lionsgate invested an estimated $100 million in the regional streaming business over the years.
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Key insights

  • 1

    Lionsgate retains brand and catalogue linkage to the platform: A multi-year agreement licenses the Lionsgate Play brand name and provides access to Lionsgate’s film and television catalogue so the platform can continue operating and scaling in the region.

  • 2

    The deal includes staged payments: People aware of the discussions said the transaction includes an upfront payment with the remaining amount paid in multiple tranches.

  • 3

    The sale fits a stated shift away from non-core international streaming: The sale was stated to align with Lionsgate’s strategy to exit non-core international streaming operations and focus on intellectual property creation and content production.

Takeaways

Lionsgate Play in South Asia and Southeast Asia moved to founder-led ownership under Rohit Jain while Lionsgate retained regional distribution operations and licensed the brand and catalogue for continued platform operation.

Topics

Business & Markets Mergers & Acquisitions

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