Lionsgate, e-commerce giant create China streaming service

US media group Lionsgate has linked with Chinese e-commerce behemoth Alibaba Group to launch a subscription streaming service.

Lionsgate Entertainment World (LGEW) will be an SVOD service for the lucrative mainland China market available through Alibaba’s latest generation set-top boxes.

Lionsgate and Alibaba will jointly operate LGEW, which will offer Lionsgate shows such as upcoming E! drama The Royals, ABC’s Nashville and NBC miniseries Rosemary’s Baby. Other titles on the platform include AMC’s Mad Men and Showtime’s Weeds.

At launch, which is penciled in for next month, Hollywood blockbusters including the first instalment of the Divergent franchise and several titles from the Twilight Saga franchise will also be offered.

Thereafter, the service’s portfolio will be “continuously expanded after launch” with movies such as The Hunger Games: Catching Fire and its upcoming follow-up, The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1.