Starz
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| The English used in this article or section is in the process of being made simple, and may not yet be easy for everybody to understand. |
 Current logo used since September 29, 2022 | |
| Type | |
|---|---|
| Country | United States |
| Broadcast area | Worldwide |
| Headquarters | Santa Monica, California |
| Programming | |
| Language(s) | |
| Picture format | |
| Timeshift service | Starz timeshift channels
|
| Ownership | |
| Owner | Starz Entertainment |
| Parent | Starz Inc. |
| Key people |
|
| Sister channels | |
| History | |
| Launched | February 1, 1994 |
| Former names | Starz! (1994–2005) |
| Links | |
| Website | www |
| Availability | |
| Streaming media | |
| Starz (streaming service) | (U.S. cable internet subscribers only; requires subscription, trial or television provider login to access content)
Available feeds
|
| Apple TV Channels | Over-the-top TV (requires subscription or trial to access content)
|
| Amazon Video Channels | Over-the-top TV (requires subscription or trial to access content) Available feeds
|
| The Roku Channel | Over-the-top TV (requires subscription or trial to access content)
|
| ClaroTV+ | Over-the-top TV (requires subscription to access content) Available feeds
|
Starz (stylized in all caps as STARZ; pronounced "stars") is an American pay-TV network owned by Starz Entertainment, and is the main service of Starz Inc. It launched on February 1, 1994 as an additional offering of what is now Starz Encore, its programming includes theatrically released movies and first-run original television series. Starz operates six 24-hour, linear channels; a traditional subscription video on demand service; and an over-the-top streaming platform with the same name that both acts as a TV Everywhere offering for Starz's linear television subscribers and is sold directly to streaming-only consumers.
Starz is also sold independently of traditional and over-the-top television providers through Apple TV Channels and Amazon Video Channels, which feature video on demand library content and live channel versions of Starz's linear television services (showing the primary channel's East and West Coast feeds and, for Amazon Video customers, the East Coast feeds of its five channels). Starz's programming has been licensed for use by a number of channels and platforms worldwide, and the brand name is licensed by Bell Media for a companion channel of the Canada-based company's Crave premium service.
Starz and its partner networks, Starz Encore and MoviePlex, are headquartered in Santa Monica, California, with additional office facilities located at the Meridian International Business Center complex in Englewood, Colorado, and at a small office located on 5th Avenue in New York City. As of September 2018[update], Starz was available to approximately 28.517 million American households that had a subscription to a television provider (27.675 million of which receive Starz's primary channel at minimum). Starz's video on demand streaming media service had 27.92 million paid subscribers as of 2024.
The Starz streaming service was made available on Amazon Prime Video as a bundle with MGM+ in 2023 and with HBO Max in 2025. A separate bundle with Britbox through the Starz website was made available in 2024.
Programming
Film library
As of 2023[update], Starz and sister networks Starz Encore and MoviePlex have exclusive first-run film licensing agreements with Lionsgate Films (since 2022, including Summit Entertainment since 2023) and Universal Pictures (since 2022, after each films' 18 month window on Peacock and Amazon Prime Video).
On March 2, 2021, Lionsgate announced films from Lionsgate Films would air on Starz for first-run rights starting in 2022, except Summit Entertainment which would start airing on Starz in 2023 after output deals with Hulu and HBO expired at the end of 2021 and 2022 respectively. On July 15, 2021, Starz reached a licensing deal with Universal Pictures for first-run movies 18 months after they streamed on Peacock and Amazon Prime Video respectively.
Despite being acquired by Lions Gate Entertainment in 2016, films released under the Lionsgate label did not air on Starz until 2022 due to an output deal with Epix until the end of 2019, then Hulu until the end of 2021. Summit Entertainment films did not air on Starz until 2023 due to an output deal with HBO until the end of 2022.
A previous first-run film output agreement with Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures expired after December 2015, with Netflix taking over pay television rights in January 2016 (excluding films released by Touchstone Pictures, which remained with Starz through a separate contract). Through at least the first half of 2016, Starz offered Disney films that were released before the expiration, such as Inside Out and The Good Dinosaur, but none released after, such as Zootopia.
Original programming
Starz expanded its program offerings to include some original television series by the late 1990s, with five entertainment news programs and shows that focused on the making of upcoming or current feature films (such as Starz Movie News and Hollywood One on One); some of these programs were also broadcast on Encore. These shows and documentaries were produced under the name Starz Encore Entertainment, which was formed in 1999. In 2005, Starz began expanding its original programming offering in order to compete with rivals Showtime, Cinemax and HBO, with the inclusion of scripted series. Starz Encore Entertainment was renamed Starz Originals. Some of the initial series (such as Kung Faux, The Bronx Bunny Show and Head Case) had running times considered unconventional for a live-action series, usually running under 15 minutes in length; half-hour and hour-long series were eventually added to the schedule by 2010 (including shows such as Spartacus, Torchwood: Miracle Day in 2011, Boss and Da Vinci's Demons).
The number of original series that debuted each year on Starz has varied, reaching a high of four series during the 2011 calendar year. In 2013, Starz gave a series order to Outlander, a drama based on the Outlander book series by Diana Gabaldon. The project, from Battlestar Galactica developer Ronald D. Moore and Sony Pictures Television, received a 16-episode order, with production beginning in Scotland (where the books are set) in October 2013. Outlander received five nominations for the 2015 Women's Image Network Awards, including a nomination in the Drama Series category. Caitriona Balfe, who plays the leading character in the show, also received a nomination in the Actress Drama Series category.
After Starz's 2016 purchase by Lionsgate, the network has moved to produce more original content, with president of programming Carmi Zlotnik calling Starz a "content pump" for Lionsgate.
Current shows
Original shows
- P-Valley
- Power Book III: Raising Kanan
- Outlander: Blood and Blood
- The BMF Documentary: Blowing Money Fast
- S.W.A.T. Files (awaiting release)
Acquired shows
- Sweetpea
- The Couple Next Door
- Fightland (awaiting release)
See also
References
- ↑ Andreeva, Nellie (November 17, 2021). "TriStar TV's Kathryn Busby Joins Starz As President Of Original Programming". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved March 20, 2024.
- ↑ Haselton, Todd (March 25, 2019). "Apple unveils streaming TV services". CNBC. NBCUniversal News Group. Archived from the original on March 25, 2019. Retrieved March 25, 2019.
- ↑ Katzmaier, David (May 23, 2019). "Amazon Prime Video Channels: Everything you need to know". CNET. CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on June 10, 2020. Retrieved June 9, 2020.
- ↑ "Lionsgate Signs Lease for STARZ". Commercial Property Executive. September 22, 2017. Archived from the original on January 4, 2020. Retrieved January 4, 2020.
- ↑ "Colorado Gov. Bill Owens Helps Starz Encore Group Dedicate New Headquarters In Meridian Office Park South of Denver". Starz MediaRoom. PR Newswire. July 2, 2002. Archived from the original on July 14, 2011. Retrieved February 24, 2011.
- ↑ Bucholtz, Andrew (September 10, 2018). "Nielsen coverage estimates for September see gains at ESPN networks, NBCSN, and NBA TV, drops at MLBN and NFLN (Cable Network Coverage Area Household Universe Estimates: September 2018)". Awful Announcing. NESN Digital. Archived from the original on September 18, 2018. Retrieved September 20, 2018.
- ↑ Vlessing, Etan (August 4, 2022). "Lionsgate Grows Starz Streaming Subscribers to 26.3M". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved February 2, 2025.
- ↑ "Lionsgate Reports Results for First Quarter Fiscal 2024" (PDF). August 9, 2023. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 30, 2023. Retrieved August 19, 2023.
- ↑ Goldsmith, Jill (February 17, 2023). "Starz To Launch Bundle With MGM+ On Prime Video in the U.S." Deadline. Retrieved February 9, 2026.
- ↑ Hayes, Dade (January 22, 2025). "Max-Starz Bundle Launches On Prime Video". Deadline. Retrieved February 9, 2026.
- ↑ Goldsmith, Jill (October 10, 2024). "Starz And BritBox Debut Streaming Bundle". Deadline. Retrieved February 9, 2026.
- ↑ Vlessing, Etan (March 2, 2021). "Lionsgate, Summit Label Films Headed to Starz for Exclusive First Window". The Hollywood Reporter.
- ↑ Andreeva, Nellie (July 15, 2021). "Starz Inks Post Pay-One Licensing Deal for Universal Movies". Deadline. Archived from the original on January 11, 2022. Retrieved January 11, 2022.
- ↑ McNary, Dave (June 11, 2019). "Lionsgate Pacts With Hulu, FX for Two-Year Output Deal". Variety.
- ↑ Press, Michael Lietdke, Associated. "Netflix to stream newer Disney movies". USA TODAY. Retrieved February 5, 2026.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ↑ Zinn, Dori (December 4, 2012). "What the Netflix-Disney Deal Means for You". Yahoo! Finance. Archived from the original on October 10, 2016. Retrieved January 17, 2017 – via Money Talks News.
- ↑ Maxwell R. (December 4, 2012). "Netflix scores exclusive rights to Disney movies". PhoneArena. Archived from the original on January 11, 2013. Retrieved February 20, 2013.
- ↑ Steelter, Brian (March 18, 2009). "Starz Has High Hopes for Its Original Shows". The New York Times. Archived from the original on August 11, 2017. Retrieved February 13, 2017.
- ↑ Davis, Joyzelle (September 23, 2006). "Starz lifts curtain on original shows Comedy roster experiments with shorter programs". Rocky Mountain News. Archived from the original on November 5, 2012. Retrieved February 25, 2011.
- ↑ Adegoke, Yinka (October 1, 2010). "Liberty Media sees Starz doubling original shows". Reuters. Archived from the original on October 4, 2010. Retrieved July 2, 2017.
- ↑ Andreeva, Nellie (June 1, 2013). "Outlander Greenlighted to Series by Starz". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on August 7, 2014. Retrieved February 19, 2020.
- ↑ "Caitriona Balfe and Outlander among nominees for Women's Image Network Awards 2015". Scotland Now – For Scots Everywhere. www.scotlandnow.dailyrecord.co.uk. November 18, 2015. Archived from the original on December 8, 2015. Retrieved December 7, 2015.
- ↑ Szalai, Georg (August 24, 2017). "Starz Programming Chief: Lionsgate Sees Company as 'a Content Pump'". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on July 20, 2018. Retrieved July 19, 2018.
Notes
Other websites