Alibaba and Lionsgate to offer subscription streaming service

Chinese internet giant Alibaba Group's headquaters in Beijing [File Photo: xinhuanet]

Chinese internet giant Alibaba Group and US film studio Lionsgate are unveiling their collaborative subscription streaming service on the Chinese mainland next month.

Named "Lionsgate Entertainment World," users can sign up for the service exclusively through Alibaba's newest set-top box.

While the service's pricing mechanism has yet to be revealed, productions including "The Hunger Games: Catching Fire," the "Twilight" films, "Divergent" and "Mad Men" will be offered in the package.

The service's content selection will reportedly be expanded after launch.

The service will also offer users exclusive content not available in China, like behind-the-scenes footage and cast interviews.

With the service, Alibaba takes its first step into offering entertainment content.

The move coincides with the e-commerce giant expanding its U.S. imminent initial public offering, saying it could raise up to 15 billion U.S. dollars.

It is now valued at 130 billion US dollars after updating its draft prospectus with the US Security and Exchanges Commission on Friday.