Lionsgate announced that it has sold its Lionsgate Play streaming platform in South Asia and Southeast Asia to former President Rohit Jain for an estimated $20‑30 million. The deal transfers ownership to Jain, who will run the service under a founder‑led structure while Lionsgate retains its film and television distribution business in the region and will license the Lionsgate Play brand and library under a multi‑year agreement.
The transaction follows Lionsgate’s $100 million investment in the regional streaming business over the past decade and comes after the platform reported a 57% decline in net loss to Rs 26 crore in FY25, with operating revenue falling 7% to Rs 75 crore. Lionsgate Play currently serves about 5 million paid subscribers across India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Nepal, and Southeast Asian markets.
Strategically, the sale allows Lionsgate to concentrate on its core content production and distribution activities while divesting a non‑core streaming operation that requires significant capital and operational resources. The move aligns with a broader industry trend of media companies streamlining their direct‑to‑consumer footprints in high‑growth markets.
Under Jain’s leadership, Lionsgate Play is positioned to accelerate growth by leveraging his eight‑year experience building the service and deep understanding of local consumer preferences. The founder‑led model is expected to enable faster innovation and tighter alignment with regional viewing habits, helping the platform compete more effectively against global players such as Netflix and Amazon Prime Video and local giants like JioHotstar.
The sale occurs in a highly competitive, price‑sensitive market where subscription growth is slowing. Lionsgate’s extensive library of over 20,000 titles—including franchises such as “John Wick,” “The Hunger Games,” and “Twilight”—provides a strong content foundation for the platform, while the licensing agreement ensures Lionsgate maintains a presence in the region without the operational burden of running the service.
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