Lionsgate has strategically divested its Lionsgate Play streaming platform, which serves markets across South Asia and Southeast Asia, transferring ownership to Rohit Jain. Jain, a key figure in the service's establishment and growth during his eight-year tenure as president of Lionsgate Play Asia, will now lead the platform independently. This transaction allows Lionsgate to focus on its theatrical distribution and television production activities within these dynamic regions while ensuring the continued growth of Lionsgate Play under experienced leadership.
Lionsgate Play's Strategic Transition in Asia
On Tuesday, January 13, 2026, Lionsgate officially announced the sale of its prominent streaming service, Lionsgate Play, in South and Southeast Asia. The acquiring party is Rohit Jain, the executive who served as president of Lionsgate Play Asia for eight years, spearheading its development and expansion. With this new arrangement, Lionsgate will maintain its established theatrical distribution and television production operations across India, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, Nepal, and the Maldives.
Under the terms of the agreement, Jain has secured a multi-year licensing deal. This arrangement grants him the continued right to utilize the esteemed Lionsgate Play brand and access Lionsgate's extensive content library, providing a strong foundation for the streaming service's future. Lionsgate Play primarily operates through a business-to-business-to-consumer (B2B2C) model, leveraging long-standing partnerships with major telecommunications providers across its operational territories. Notably, in the robust Indian market, the platform is seamlessly integrated into leading aggregators such as JioHotstar, Airtel Xstream, and Amazon Prime Video Channels.
Looking ahead to 2026, the company is poised for an ambitious content slate, with plans to introduce 100 new premieres. A significant focus will be on enriching its regional Indian content library, with an anticipated addition of 25 new titles spanning Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, and Kannada languages. Lionsgate COO Brian Goldsmith expressed gratitude for Rohit's exceptional leadership, acknowledging his pivotal role in establishing and scaling Lionsgate's presence in India and transforming Lionsgate Play into a distinguished premium streaming platform in a rapidly evolving digital entertainment landscape. Goldsmith highlighted Jain's entrepreneurial spirit and deep understanding of the Asian market as key factors that will drive Lionsgate Play into an exciting new phase of expansion. Rohit Jain, in turn, conveyed his profound appreciation to Jon Feltheimer and Brian Goldsmith for their trust, which enabled him to cultivate Lionsgate's Indian business and evolve Lionsgate Play into a premier streaming service across Asia. He emphasized the platform's strong position as a leading destination for Hollywood content in India and its readiness to diversify, crafting a distinct and forward-looking streaming experience for the region. The financial specifics of this significant transaction were not disclosed to the public.
This strategic move by Lionsgate to sell its Asian streaming arm to a seasoned executive like Rohit Jain underscores a growing trend of localization and specialized focus in the global streaming market. It highlights the importance of regional expertise and tailored content strategies for success in diverse and competitive landscapes. For Lionsgate, this divestment allows for a concentrated effort on its core content creation and distribution, while for Jain, it presents an entrepreneurial opportunity to further innovate and expand a platform he meticulously built, potentially leading to more localized and culturally resonant offerings for audiences in South and Southeast Asia.