iflix, a multiscreen SVOD service for emerging markets, said it has wrapped up a $133 million round of funding led by Hearst along with new and existing investors that include Singapore’s EDBI, Evolution Media, Sky PLC, Catcha Group, Liberty Global, Jungle Ventures and PLDT.

The new round brings iflix’s total funding to more than $220 million. The new round will be used to invest in iflix’s local content strategy, the company said.

RELATED: iflix Taps CSG for Payment Options 

iflix, which competes with Netflix and Amazon Video in some markets around the globe, launched service in May 2015 and has grown from four markets to 19 across Asia, the Middle East and Africa. The company said its subscriber base has grown 3x and revenues have risen 230% over the past 12 months, and that mobile viewing is around 2.5 hours to 2.75 hours per session.

“We are thrilled to welcome Hearst President and CEO Steven Swartz and Hearst Entertainment & Syndication President Neeraj Khemlani to the iflix family,” iflix co-founder and group CEO Mark Britt, said in a statement. “Hearst is a leading investor and has many of the world’s most innovative and iconic video brands, including ESPN, A+E Networks, Vice, AwesomenessTV, Complex and more. This collaboration significantly deepens our bench of experts with our longstanding partners Evolution Media, Sky and Liberty Global to help drive iflix’s continuing growth.”

iflix was advised by Moelis & Company LLC, Delta Partners and Herbert Smith Freehills for its latest funding round. 

iflix, a multiscreen SVOD service for emerging markets, is using CSG Systems’s “Ascendon” digital services platform to consolidate and manage an array of payment options.

iflix, a service with about 3 million subs, offers thousands of TV shows and movies for streaming and download to multiple devices.

CSG said Ascendon will enable iflix to create a centralized eWallet that consolidates all payment options, including those made by credit card, PayPal, Google in-app purchasing, gift cards, vouchers and payments made through direct operator billing. Ascendon will also manage the redemption process for gift cards and vouchers for iflix.

iflix expects to launch the eWallet capabilities of Ascendon in late Spring of 2017.

CSG introduced its cloud-based Ascendon platform in March 2013, with Comcast on board as an early adopter.

RELATED: CSG Blazes Digital Path With ‘Ascendon’

“We have created a world-class Internet TV product with a customer focused approach and aim of providing individual users with the best experience possible. This commitment includes giving customers convenient payment options to best suit their preferences,” Emmanuel Frenehard, chief technology officer of iflix, said in a statement. “As we continue to enter new markets around the world, Ascendon allows us to quickly make new, local market payment options available to consumers, as part of our mission to deliver the world’s best content at a price that everyone can afford.” 

Expanding its investment into the OTT sector, U.K.-based Sky has invested $45 million in iflix alongside a strategic partnership with the service, which launched last May and now counts more than 1 million subs.

iflix, which is facing increased competition amid Netflix’s global service expansion, is currently offered in Malaysia, Thailand and the Philippines and offers tens of thousands of hours of TV shows and movies from Hollywood as well as from Asia. It’s expected to launch service to other parts of the ASEAN market region in the coming months. According to the iflix web site, subs can connect up to five devices, and stream on two at the same time. 

Under the partnership, Sky and iflix will “will work together to identify areas of future collaboration across the high-growth emerging markets in which iflix operates.”

Sky’s investment in iflix includes the purchase of $2.5 million shares from existing investors. iflix has raised $75 million so far, according to CrunchBase.

The investment in iflix follows other, recent OTT- and digital video-focused investments made by Sky, including DataXu (marketing analytics and data management), TV4 Entertainment, Pluto TV, Roku, Whistle Sports, and Jaunt, a VR-focused startup.

“iflix has quickly established itself as Southeast Asia’s most exciting and fastest-growing streaming TV service,” Sky group CFO Andrew Griffith, said in a statement. “There are lots of opportunities for Sky and iflix to work together and share expertise as both companies continue to expand.  We are really looking forward to supporting Mark and his team deliver their ambitious plans."