Alibaba, which owns one of China’s leading OTT video services Youku Tudou, already operates WeMedia, a publishing site for user generated content, and the mobile browser UCWeb in India.

Owned by billionaire Jack Ma, Alibaba has reportedly been looking for high quality content creators and production studios in Mumbai to aid it in its local expansion plans.

The company is also reportedly seeking a strategic alliance head in Gurugram, as well as a strategic alliance head for video in either Mumbai or Gurugram.

In a statement, Alibaba said: “India is key in our globalisation strategy and we are committed to growing our existing businesses in this market in the long term.”

India’s online video market is poised to reach US$1.6 billion by 2020, from $340 million in 2017, according to Media Partners Asia (MPA).