Lionsgate Play (LGP) and the Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company (PLDT) are celebrating a significant milestone as they mark the first anniversary of their thriving partnership. Over the past year, this collaboration has led to remarkable achievements, including the establishment of strong brand recognition and the attainment of record-breaking trial rates—unprecedented in the history of PLDT.
Launching a video-on-demand (VOD) service in June 2022, immediately following the pandemic, presented its own set of challenges. Many Filipinos had already become accustomed to other VOD platforms. Nevertheless, LGP rose to the occasion and swiftly distinguished itself from the competition by offering edgy, irreverent, and high-octane content.
#PlayMoreBrowseLess
While Lionsgate Studios boasts an extensive library of over 17,000 titles, LGP is committed to providing quality over quantity. The platform curates a captivating selection of content that allows its audience to #PlayMoreBrowseLess. LGP achieves this by offering the latest and most exciting releases, including exclusive premieres of TV shows from LGP’s US parent network STARZ, as well as blockbuster hits from the premium Lionsgate library. Additionally, LGP occasionally secures Academy Award®-winning films from other studios.
Evert Miranda, PLDT Home Vice President and Digital Services Head of Product & Marketing (Beyond Access), reflects on the partnership’s success, stating, “Since the grand launch of the partnership in June 2022, PLDT Home’s collaboration with Lionsgate Play has introduced a fresh wave of entertainment to its valued Filipino customers. The partnership allowed customers to immerse themselves in a world of unlimited entertainment courtesy of Lionsgate Play’s wide array of international and award-winning content.”
Throughout the past year, LGP’s audience has shown a particular fondness for its box-office hits, which encompass beloved franchises such as John Wick, Hunger Games, Twilight, and Saw. New and previously unreleased films featuring Bruce Willis, like APEX and Corrective Measures, have also garnered significant attention, along with unique and captivating series like Spartacus, Power, Gaslit, and The Serpent Queen.
LGP subscribers can continue to anticipate exclusive titles, including high-adrenaline, action-packed series like Heels, Gangs of London, Kandahar, and Gray, as well as new Lionsgate films like One Ranger and Fear the Night. Additionally, for the second consecutive year, LGP will exclusively live-stream The Emmy Awards, with seven of its titles receiving nominations.
The Secret to LGP’s Success
Central to LGP’s triumph is its partnership with PLDT. PLDT took a bold step by offering their subscribers 12 months of access to LGP. Thanks to PLDT’s reputation as the country’s fastest fixed internet provider, as recognized by Ookla, PLDT subscribers were able to enjoy LGP titles with fast, reliable internet.
Amit Dhanuka, LGP Executive Vice President, underscores the significance of partnerships in LGP’s growth, saying, “We have been pioneers in understanding that partnerships are essential in this market to grow subscribers. The growth is skewed towards the partnerships because they open up a larger funnel than what we would be able to get ourselves. These partnerships took time to evolve. So, we had a lot of customers come onto the platform earlier and they have stayed. Now, the partnerships are driving subscriber growth.”
“As we celebrate the anniversary of this successful partnership, we eagerly anticipate Lionsgate Play’s commitment to enriching the platform with an expanded selection of content,” adds Miranda. “With the introduction of paid subscriptions, we hope to witness the arrival of highly anticipated releases such as John Wick 4 and other upcoming masterpieces from Lionsgate and Starz. Our ultimate goal is to provide Filipino homes with the best of the best in entertainment.”
