Lionsgate Enters JV for Streaming Service in China

HANGZHOU/SANTA MONICA: Lionsgate has teamed up with Alibaba Group to form Lionsgate Entertainment World (LGEW), a subscription streaming service for mainland China.

The service will be available exclusively through Alibaba's latest generation of set-top box. It will deliver instant access to Hollywood blockbusters from the Lionsgate catalogue such as the first installment of the Divergent franchise and several titles from the Twilight Saga franchise. Lionsgate TV series are also part of the mix, including The Royals, which is set to debut early next year; Nashville, entering its third season; and the miniseries Rosemary's Baby. Also part of the offering are Mad Men and Weeds. In addition to the Lionsgate content, LGEW will offer exclusive behind-the-scenes footage, features and other premium content.

“We’re pleased to collaborate with Alibaba, a world-class brand that is well known and respected among consumers throughout China,” said Jon Feltheimer, Lionsgate's CEO. “Alibaba is the kind of entrepreneurial company with whom we like to be in business, and the launch of our streaming service in China underscores our commitment to innovation and leadership in delivering premium content to digital platforms around the world.”

"We are thrilled to be collaborating with Lionsgate to offer this new content streaming service and deliver high-quality, entertaining and relevant TV shows and movies to our users,” added Patrick Liu, the president of Alibaba Group’s digital entertainment business unit. “We are committed to expanding our ecosystem where our users can meet, work and live, and this cooperation signals our ongoing commitment to advance our vision of making digital media entertainment available to our customers anywhere, anytime.”

“The Lionsgate Entertainment World service will be distinguished not only by the breadth and depth of our content portfolio but our commitment to provide Chinese consumers with first-run films, television shows and behind-the-scenes experiences that aren’t available anywhere else in China,” said Jim Packer, Lionsgate's president of worldwide television and digital distribution, and Brian Goldsmith, Lionsgate's co-COO. “The combination of Alibaba’s tremendous knowledge of the Chinese market and Lionsgate’s content leadership provide LGEW with unique competitive advantages, and we look forward to continuing our close collaboration with the Alibaba team and our friend David U. Lee.”