Lionsgate Play joins Indian OTT platform race, offers awesome content
Guess what is the latest OTT platform on the block! It's Lionsgate Play, the app by renowned studio Lionsgate, which was launched by global streamer, Starz. This platform will stream all Hollywood content - original series, films and other forms - across multiple regional languages that are getting unprecedented popularity during the pandemic. Its direct rivals include Disney+ Hotstar, Amazon Prime Video, and Netflix.
Lionsgate Play will be available on Google Play Store, Apple app store, and Amazon firestick. Its yearly rate is Rs. 699 and monthly is Rs. 99. Most content will be in full-HD. Meanwhile, Amazon Prime Video and Netflix have monthly subscription rates of Rs. 129 and Rs. 199, respectively, with the latter limiting their service for their lowest subscription tier for smartphones only.
So, Lionsgate's deal seems more cost-effective than other seasoned OTT streaming players. Notably, the history of streaming platforms in India goes back to the late 2000s when BIGFlix (a Reliance Entertainment product) became the first dependent Indian OTT platform to get launched. Currently, there are around 30 active OTT platforms, including brands based on regional languages, in India. With Lionsgate joining, the competition gets more interesting.
For now, the app of the global production house will offer select titles: Syrian civil war series No Man's Land, comedy series The Goes Wrong Show, and Love Life. Its arsenal also has premiere movies like Hustlers, Angel Has Fallen, Hellboy, and The Gentlemen. However, with time, they also intend to make original content for the Indian market, said Rohit Jain, MD (South Asia-Lionsgate).
The app was launched in a virtual press conference by Jeffrey A Hirsch, President and Chief Executive Officer of Starz, and Jain. To appease Bollywood buffs, the latter promised content starring "exciting millennial stars" such as Kriti Sanon, Tiger Shroff, and Sanjana Sanghi. "Our unique, exclusive and exceptionally curated content will generate a great response from Indian audiences," said Hirsch. Let's test it out!
