Lionsgate movies will still stream on STARZ after separation
Lionsgate movies will still stream on STARZ after separation
A new output deal will see Lionsgate movies continue to premiere on the STARZ cable channel and streaming service after the two companies split.
One of the sneaky unknown questions surrounding the split of the Lionsgate movie studio from the STARZ cable channel and streaming bundle was whether Lionsgate films would still go to STARZ first once the break up was complete. That’s the arrangement currently, but as the two entities are on track to become separate, publicly traded companies, Lionsgate could easily have made a streaming deal with a new service once it was officially on its own. However, Deadline reported this week that Lionsgate and STARZ have extended their output deal for multiple years as they take the necessary steps to split for good.
Key Details:
- STARZ will have exclusive rights to Lionsgate movies in their first pay television window.
- The STARZ streaming service will get Lionsgate movies more quickly than it has in the past.
- An exclusive third STARZ window for Lionsgate movies has been added to the deal.
As per the terms of the new agreement, Lionsgate movies will continue to debut on the Starz cable network in their pay-1 window The STARZ streaming service will also remain the first stop for Lionsgate movies after they leave their theatrical exclusive window.
Additionally, films will arrive on STARZ more quickly than they have in the past once it finishes its split from Lionsgate, though it wasn’t specified how much more quickly they’ll debut. Films from Lionsgate typically have one of the longest theatrical release windows of any studio, even for titles that aren’t top earners. “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever,” for instance, won’t stream on STARZ until more than 140 days after being released in theaters in November.
“Movies are a critical part of our premium offering, and we’re pleased to extend our agreement with an accelerated window,” Starz Networks president Alison Hoffman said. “Lionsgate’s movies perform incredibly well on our service, and we’re thrilled to offer subscribers their expanding slate of films.”
In the deal, STARZ will not only retain its first and second windows of exclusivity for Lionsgate movies but will also get a new, third exclusive window. It isn’t currently clear when this window would fall in the life cycle of a given movie; it could be intended to follow the first two windows, or it could allow for movies to return to STARZ after being streamed elsewhere for a given period of time.
“This newly extended deal is an affirmation of the tremendous value of Lionsgate movies in the pay television ecosystem,” Lionsgate executive Jim Packer said. “It is a win/win for the studio and Starz, unlocking significant incremental value for our slate by delivering our movies to Starz closer to their initial theatrical release and giving them access to an expanded and growing roster of franchises and other major properties.”
STARZ
STARZ offers a subscription video streaming service that gives access to content on the STARZ channel without the need of a cable subscription. With your subscription, you’ll get access to 7,500+ films and episodes, including all of their current originals like “Outlander,” The Serpent Queen,” “BMF,” and “Power.”