Lionsgate Play is betting big on South Asia and its legion of OTT viewers. After launching in India last year, and expanding to the South Asian countries of Indonesia, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, Lionsgate Play is now launching in the Philippines soon. Ahead of its Philippines launch, the streamer has hired Ma. Cecilia Marino as the General Manager to lead its business there. Rohit Jain, MD South Asia, and Networks – Emerging Markets Asia, will continue to spearhead operations in the South Asia region.
The Asia-specific streaming arm of content giant STARZ, Lionsgate Play is a streaming service co-created by Lionsgate’s India operations, and STARZ. For those not in the know, STARZ is the broadcast service owned by production company, Lionsgate. Lionsgate Play was initially available only in India, but is now expanding in other regions of South Asia.
The premium subscription service offers a sizeable library of Hollywood films, including its own Lionsgate films, and buzzing and in-demand web shows. The streamer has recently launched its own Lionsgate Play Original shows in India. All of these are available to stream in the Lionsgate Play content library in other South Asian countries.
The Philippines has a robust appetite for streaming and OTT content. As per recent surveys, 36 million consumers stream two billion hours of OTT content per month in the Philippines, making OTT one of the fastest growing media channels in the country. The mounting dominance of Hollywood films and soaring OTT viewership in the Philippines, coupled with only a few premium services to meet demand, creates a great market opportunity for Lionsgate Play to thrive in the country.
Rohit Jain, Managing Director South Asia and Networks – Emerging Markets Asia at Lionsgate said, “We are thrilled to expand into the Philippines where over a third of the population uses OTT services, a trend that has accelerated in the past two years as Filipinos become avid streaming consumers. We see this as a great opportunity to reach and engage with them. As part of this process, we are building a strong leadership team beginning with the appointment of Ma. Cecilia Marino to lead our growth there, taking Lionsgate Play to new heights while creating long term value for our stakeholders.”
Speaking on her appointment, Ma. Cecilia Marino, General Manager, Lionsgate Play Philippines said, “I am delighted to join the team at Lionsgate and bring my expertise and a fresh perspective to the table. The Philippines is an indispensable market for the South Asian business, and I am confident that the Filipino audience will enjoy Lionsgate Play’s unique and exclusive streaming offering.”
Ma. Cecilia will begin operations in the Philippines under the guidance of Rohit Jain who will be heading the South Asian vertical. With over 25 years of experience in business strategy & development, brand marketing and partnerships, Cecilia has worked closely with the dynamic telecommunications and fast-paced consumer industries. Most recently, she headed the Integrated Sales Group of KidZania Manila, one of the fastest growing global learning and entertainment brands in the world.
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