BEVERLY HILLS, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--
Starz (NASDAQ: STRZA, STRZB) announced that STARZ and STARZ ENCORE premium pay TV channels and services – including STARZ, STARZ ENCORE, and STARZ ENCORE WESTERNS – will be available on the new AT&T streaming service DIRECTV NOW.
When DIRECTV NOW launches later this month, the service will feature 8 STARZ ENCORE channels, with more STARZ channels to be added at a later date, including the full STARZ and STARZ ENCORE VOD catalogs, including both current and past seasons of STARZ Original series.
The addition of the Starz channels and services to the forthcoming DIRECTV NOW platform was part of a recently completed comprehensive multi-year agreement that extended Starz’ longtime relationships with AT&T/DIRECTV.
“Starz is very pleased to join DIRECTV NOW and offer consumers another exciting new way to subscribe to our channels and services. STARZ has got tremendous momentum in the marketplace as the fastest growing flagship premium pay TV service since beginning its original programming strategy and second-most widely subscribed in the United States,”* said Jeffrey Hirsch, Chief Operating Officer at Starz. “With breakthrough STARZ Original series, including ‘Power,’ ‘Outlander,’ ‘Ash vs Evil Dead,’ ‘Survivor’s Remorse’ and next year’s ’American Gods,’ and exclusive first-run hit movies including Star Wars: The Force Awakens and Avengers: Age of Ultron, STARZ will be offered on this upcoming streaming platform with a great value for consumers.”
“With the addition of premium networks from STARZ and STARZ ENCORE, we are continuing to build a robust streaming platform,” said Dan York, chief content officer for AT&T. “DIRECTV NOW will give consumers the best of both worlds – a breadth of great content with the freedom to watch it anywhere, anytime.”
DIRECTV NOW will offer customers access to more than 100 channels, including live and on-demand programming from top networks as well as premium add-on options. Customers will be able to access and stream the service over a wired or wireless Internet connection using a variety of connected devices without requiring additional hardware, satellites, long-term contracts or credit checks.
About Starz
Starz (NASDAQ: STRZA, STRZB) is a leading integrated global media and entertainment company with operating units that provide premium subscription video programming on domestic U.S. pay television networks (Starz Networks) and global content distribution (Starz Distribution), www.starz.com. The Starz Networks operating unit is home to the flagship STARZ® brand with 24.5 million subscribers in the United States as of September 30, 2016, with the STARZ ENCORESM network at 31.5 million subscribers. Through STARZ, the company provides high quality, entertaining premium subscription video programming with 17 premium pay TV channels and associated on-demand and online services. STARZ is sold through U.S. multichannel video distributors, including cable operators, satellite television providers, telecommunications companies, and other online and digital platforms. Starz offers subscribers more than 5,000 distinct premium television episodes and feature films every year and up to 1,500 every month, including STARZ Original series, first-run movies and other popular movie and television programming. The Starz Distribution operating unit is home to the Anchor Bay Entertainment, Starz Digital, and Starz Worldwide Distribution divisions. In addition to STARZ Original series, Starz Distribution develops, produces and acquires movies, television and other entertainment content for worldwide home video, digital, and television licensing and sales.
* Sources: 2Q 2016 Premium Network Census, SNL Kagan (released 8/22/2016) and 2016 SNL Kagan quarterly premium census and Starz internal reports.
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