Lionsgate & Univision Launching Spanish-Language SVOD Service

SANTA MONICA: Lionsgate and Univision Communications are teaming up to launch a Spanish-language SVOD service that targets the Hispanic movie-going audience in the U.S.

This will mark the first premium SVOD movie service designed specifically for Spanish-speaking and bilingual Hispanic consumers in the U.S. It is expected to launch early next year.

The service will include Spanish-language box-office hits spanning the comedy, family, kids, horror and drama genres and current titles from across the Spanish-speaking world, with many available on the same date as their theatrical release in Latin American markets. It will also encompass titles from Lionsgate’s joint venture with Televisa, Pantelion Films, and Hollywood films from Lionsgate’s 16,000-title library and other catalogs dubbed into Spanish. Univision will also license titles from its classic Latino cinema library to the new service.

“Our premium movie service checks all the boxes for success—a world-class partner in Univision, films from the Pantelion brand that has great equity among Spanish-speaking audiences, strong management, terrific intellectual property and a well-defined market opportunity,” said Lionsgate CEO Jon Feltheimer. “This new service has all the ingredients to be the leading premium movie channel for Hispanic audiences in the U.S. as well as a great addition to our growing portfolio of SVOD services.” 

“Hispanic movie-goers are one of the fastest-growing segments of the entertainment business today, and this platform offers a unique value proposition combining premium content, advanced technology and tremendous accessibility,” said Randy Falco, the president and CEO of Univision Communications.  “We’re pleased to bring our marketing and distribution experience to an exciting new service driven by current and classic Spanish-language films and Hollywood favorites that will resonate with our audience. Univision’s experience and vast reach coupled with Lionsgate’s and Pantelion Films’ successful track record demonstrate the tremendous opportunity of the Spanish-language movie audience in the U.S.”