iWorld
Lionsgate Play announces its launch in the Philippines
Mumbai: Lionsgate Play, South Asia-based platform of premium subscription service STARZ, on Friday announced its continued expansion in Southeast Asia by getting ready for launching operations in the Philippines. The media company has appointed Ma Cecilia Marino as the general manager to lead its business in the region.
With a population of 109 million, the Philippines will become the newest territory added to the STARZ global footprint which now includes 60 countries, the company said in a statement.
Lionsgate Play, MD South Asia, and networks – emerging markets Asia, Rohit Jain will continue to spearhead operations in the region. Marino will begin operations in the Philippines under the guidance of Jain, it added.
“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,” Jain said. “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,” he added.
Marino has over 25 years of experience in business strategy & development, brand marketing, and partnerships. She has worked closely with the dynamic telecommunications and fast-paced consumer industries. Most recently, she headed the integrated sales group of KidZania Manila, a global learning and entertainment brand.
“I am delighted to join the team at Lionsgate and bring my expertise and a fresh perspective to the table,” Marino said. “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.”
According to a recent study by the Trade Desk, 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.
The premium video streaming service also recently launched its service in Indonesia, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh, after a successful rollout in India last year.
iWorld
JioStar revenue hits Rs 9,784 crore as cricket fuels 22 per cent growth
A surge in digital viewership and sports dominance fuels a blockbuster quarter for the media giant
MUMBAI: JioStar is batting on a flat pitch. The media titan’s fourth-quarter results for the financial year 2026 reveal a business scaling new heights, propelled by an unprecedented appetite for premium sports and digital-first storytelling.
Gross revenue for the quarter soared by 22.15 per cent to Rs 9,784 crore, up from Rs 8,010 crore in the third quarter. Operationally, the momentum was equally strong; revenue from operations climbed 21 per cent to Rs 8,372 crore. These figures underscore the firm’s successful integration following the Reliance and Disney merger, creating a dominant force in the Indian market.
The annual performance has been nothing short of a spectacle. Full-year gross revenue reached a massive Rs 36,248 crore, while annual profit after tax hit Rs 3,210 crore. This rapid expansion reflects JioStar’s ability to capture and monetise the massive growth in India’s media consumption.
Cricket proved to be the ultimate growth engine. The ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 and TATA IPL 2026 delivered “record-breaking viewership” across both television and digital screens. The World Cup final alone drew a global peak concurrency of 72.5 million on JioHotstar, cementing its status as the nation’s premier streaming destination. On television, JioStar maintained a commanding 34.2 per cent viewership share, reaching a staggering 810 million viewers nationwide.
The digital numbers were just as impressive. JioHotstar averaged 500 million monthly active users, driven by consistent subscriber growth and innovative AI-led content discovery tools. These advancements are ensuring that JioStar remains at the cutting edge of the global “Race for Attention.”
With a firm grip on the country’s most valuable sporting rights and a rapidly growing digital footprint, JioStar is perfectly positioned for the future. It has built the ultimate content powerhouse—one that is ready to dominate the Indian living room for years to come.
