Lionsgate Signs New Streaming Deal with China’s iQIYI

SANTA MONICA/BEIJING: Lionsgate has inked a new long-term output deal with iQIYI, delivering a range of movies to the Chinese online video platform.

The agreement covers subscription (SVOD), transactional (TVOD) and advertising video-on-demand (AVOD) rights for films streaming on iQIYI’s platform in China, which boasts more than half a billion unique users. The platform will have exclusive streaming rights in China to Lionsgate theatrical titles covered by the agreement, including Otto Bathurst’s Robin Hood, starring Jamie Foxx and Taron Egerton, and The Glass Castle, based on the worldwide best seller and starring Brie Larson, Naomi Watts and Woody Harrelson.

“We’re delighted to expand our relationship with iQIYI, a world-class platform at the cutting edge of delivering premium quality films to online Chinese audiences,” said Lionsgate’s executive VP of international sales, Wendy Reeds. “We have collaborated with iQIYI on the promotion and distribution of some of our biggest releases in China, and our new agreement represents a great opportunity to bring a slate of blockbuster films and a deep portfolio of library titles to one of the largest and fastest-growing markets in the world.”

“Lionsgate has emerged as a major creative force in the global marketplace, and we’re proud to continue adding their incredible pipeline of star-driven movies to our platform,” added Yang Xianghua, the senior VP of iQIYI. “iQIYI already has the largest online movie library in China, and this agreement with one of Hollywood’s major studios significantly expands the selection of premium quality movies we will bring to our audiences.”