| 1 | [[quoteright:320:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/stz_2016_bk_rgb.png]] |
| 2 | [[caption-width-right:320:''[[{{Tagline}} Obsessable.]]'']] |
| 3 | |
| 4 | Starz is a premium cable network launched in 1994, specializing in first-run movies and original series. It is owned by Creator/{{Lionsgate}}. |
| 5 | |
| 6 | Unusually, Starz did not start as the first channel in its group; that honor would go to sister network Encore, which launched in 1991 under the ownership of then-giant cable provider [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tele-Communications_Inc TCI]], which has since been absorbed into Comcast; before that happened, ownership was transferred from TCI to sister company Liberty Media, both owned by John Malone. |
| 7 | |
| 8 | Starz has since been spun off as its own company. Encore started out as a solo channel, focusing on older movies, much like Creator/{{AMC}} back in those days. Over the years, [[NetworkDecay it gradually shifted away from that focus, and now is a general movie network]]. Encore broke new ground in the TV world in 1994 when it started the first themed premium multiplex (paving the way for its rivals to do the same). Prior to this, the other big premium networks (Creator/{{HBO}}, Creator/{{Showtime}}) had at least one additional channel for themselves, and a sister network (Creator/{{Cinemax}} and Creator/TheMovieChannel, respectively) that focused on more obscure titles. |
| 9 | |
| 10 | Encore's plan was 7 different channels focusing on one specific genre (action flicks, westerns, etc.) But when they acquired some rights to first-run and recent movies from Creator/{{Universal}}, Creator/NewLineCinema, Creator/CarolcoPictures, Creator/{{Disney}}, and its sub-labels Creator/TouchstonePictures, Creator/HollywoodPictures and then-Disney-owned Creator/MiramaxFilms, they decided to create an 8th channel to show only these movies: Starz! It launched on February 1, 1994, primarily on TCI cable systems. However, it and the Encore multiplex continued to grow in the following years, as providers began to pick up the channel, especially Comcast systems after Liberty struck a deal with them in 1997 regarding Philadelphia[[note]]Starz would replace [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PRISM_(TV_network) PRISM]], a regional network that screened movies, other entertainment programs, and, primarily, sports telecasts from each of the major non-NFL teams in the area; the sportscasts would move to the very first Comcast [=SportsNet=], which also replaced [=SportsChannel=] Philadelphia; the [=SportsChannel=] networks would later become part of [[Creator/{{Fox}} Fox SportsNet]][[/note]]; meanwhile, HBO and Showtime rushed to create their own multiplex services, but none of them really got off the ground until 1999-2000, when digital cable started becoming widespread. |
| 11 | |
| 12 | In 1996, Starz! got its own extension, with the launch of Starz! 2, which had a unique scheduling practice: the same movies each day for a week at the same time, like a movie theater (hence it was renamed ''Starz Theater'' in 1999). Gradually, the multiplex and Starz itself (who now has their very own multiplex) expanded, essentially become the premium TV equivalent of a BreakoutCharacter, with Encore and [=MoviePlex=] alongside it. |
| 13 | |
| 14 | The Starz Multiplex (previously known as the Starz Super Pak) includes: |
| 15 | * Starz Cinema: art-house films, launched in 1999; the only multiplex network not to have been rebranded since its launch. |
| 16 | * Starz Comedy: ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin; launched in 2005, though it planned to launch in 2002, but was postponed for some reason. |
| 17 | * Starz Edge: 18-34 age range movies; previously Starz! 2 and Starz! Theater, rebranded in 2005. Used to air anime series like ''Anime/BlackLagoon'' and ''Anime/{{Hellsing}}'' during its Animidnight block from the early to late 2000s. |
| 18 | * Starz [=inBlack=]: African-American movies; started in 1997 as a joint network with Creator/{{BET}} called BET Movies: Starz! 3; they dropped out in 2001 when [[Creator/ViacomCBS Viacom]] (owner of rival Creator/{{Showtime}}) bought them; it was then known as Black Starz! until 2005. |
| 19 | * Starz Kids & Family: Focused on family-friendly films and some acquired content from Canada (like ''WesternAnimation/AngelaAnaconda'' and ''WesternAnimation/SonicTheHedgehogSatAM''). Started out as two separate networks, Starz! Family (launched in 1999) and Starz! Kids (launched in 2003); they were merged into one network in 2005. |
| 20 | |
| 21 | The Encore Multiplex includes: |
| 22 | * [=StarzEncore=] Action: Lots of action, also aired anime films for a while. Notably, it also had an Animidnight block, like Starz Edge, that ran from the early 2000s to 2007. |
| 23 | * [=StarzEncore=] Black: Similar to Starz [=inBlack=], but also carries black-oriented TV series like ''Series/{{Amen}}''; previously was True Stories, then Encore Drama, focusing on dramatic pictures and documentaries. |
| 24 | * [=StarzEncore=] Classic: Show classic films that once ran on the actual Encore; also carries some older TV series like ''Series/NightCourt''. Was originally Love Stories, then Encore Romance. |
| 25 | * [=StarzEncore=] Espanol: The newest of the multiplex, launched in 2011 as a straight simulcast of the main Encore feed, but became separate in 2013 (much like HBO Latino), showing Spanish-language movies. |
| 26 | * [=StarzEncore=] Family: Similar to Starz Kids & Family, but also aired a variety of anime (up to a TV-14 rating) such as ''Manga/{{Vandread}}'' and ''Manga/SamuraiDeeperKyo'' in a section known as "The Block" until 2008. Was originally titled WAM! America's Kidz Network (WAM! [[FunWithAcronyms standing for]] "What Adults are Missing"), then Encore Wam. |
| 27 | * [=StarzEncore=] Suspense: Thrillers and such. Used to be (Encore) Mystery. |
| 28 | * [=StarzEncore=] Westerns: The main place for Western movies and series. |
| 29 | |
| 30 | The [=MoviePlex=] networks include: |
| 31 | * [=IndiePlex=]: Similar to Starz Cinema. |
| 32 | * [=RetroPlex=]: Similar to Encore Classic. |
| 33 | |
| 34 | The reason the [=MoviePlex=] channels somewhat mirror some of the Starz and Encore channels is because [=MoviePlex=] was initially Encore's "sampler service". Since most cable systems didn't carry the Encore Multiplex at first due to limited channel capacity, [=MoviePlex=] was created to fill the void (taking over from another Liberty network called TV! Network that showed blocks of programming from other cable nets), or it could serve as a "demo" for interested cable subscribers. Each day, the programming would be a mirror of either Encore or one of the multiplex nets; R-rated material would be removed from the rotation. It retained this format well into the 2000s, when everybody carried both Starz and Encore networks and the format no longer made sense. 2006 saw the dropping of the format and transition into a standard movie channel, plus the launches of [=IndiePlex=] and [=RetroPlex=]. |
| 35 | |
| 36 | Nowadays, Starz is entrenched as the third major premium network, with Encore now being the secondary service, and [=MoviePlex=] being the tertiary service. In comparison to its rivals, who now tend to focus on original series, Starz continues with movies as the primary focus. Currently, their only first-run movie deal is with Creator/SonyPictures (which includes all of the company's subsidiaries except for Creator/SonyPicturesAnimation, which has a deal with Creator/{{Netflix}}). |
| 37 | |
| 38 | Perhaps in reflection of this, they have also tried expanding beyond premium TV into animation (Creator/FilmRoman & Creator/MangaEntertainment), and video distribution (Anchor Bay Entertainment, which holds the video rights to many cult titles from companies like New World Pictures). Most of their ventures haven't done so well. They tried their hand at theatrical distribution with Overture Films, but it was ultimately shut down in 2011. Manga Entertainment's American operation stopped the same year, and Film Roman was sold off in 2015 (though Starz continues to own the library up to that point). |
| 39 | |
| 40 | 2016 saw, in a touch of {{Irony}}, the Encore networks rebranded under the Starz umbrella as ''[=StarzEncore=]''. The main Starz networks also saw a rebrand at the same time, with a new slogan: "Obsessable", referring to people going crazy over their favorite TV series. |
| 41 | |
| 42 | The biggest news came that year, when Lionsgate announced they were to acquire the company for $4,4 billion. Lionsgate's previous premium TV attempt, [[Creator/MGMPlus Epix]], was formed in 2009 by Lionsgate, Creator/{{MGM}} and Creator/{{Paramount}} after pulling their films from Creator/{{Showtime}}, but it hasn't seen much success (Comcast and [=DirecTV=] outright refused to carry the Epix networks at launch). More recently, Starz decided to do what HBO had done and launch a standalone streaming service; but as a result, Comcast subscribers can't use their login info to access their new service (and ironically led to friendlier relations between Comcast and Epix). In 2017, MGM would buy Lionsgate and Creator/{{Viacom}}'s stake in Epix for $1.03 billion. New Lionsgate films are set to premiere on Starz starting with their 2022 slate, following the expiration of deals with Epix (through 2019) and Creator/{{Hulu}} (2020-2021); Creator/SummitEntertainment films will join in 2023 following the expiration of the label's deal with Creator/{{HBO}}. Epix itself became MGM+ in 2023. |
| 43 | |
| 44 | Starz was thrown into crisis in April 2021 when Sony announced it would end its first-look pact with Starz in favor of a new deal with Netflix, who, as previously mentioned, also carries the studio's aforementioned animated productions. With Lionsgate being the only major content provider for Starz, and former partners New Line, Disney and Universal having long moved on[[note]](though Universal did ink an agreement with Starz for second-window Universal content beginning with their 2022 slate)[[/note]], Starz will be left with only its original programming as a major draw, leaving the future of the network uncertain. In 2023, Lionsgate announced that Starz would be spun off into a separate business in September of that year. |
| 45 | |
| 46 | ---- |
| 47 | !! Original series from Starz: |
| 48 | '''Bold''' indicates ongoing series. |
| 49 | [[index]] |
| 50 | * ''Series/{{American Gods|2017}}'' (2017-19, 2021) |
| 51 | * ''Series/AshVsEvilDead'' (2015-16, 2018) |
| 52 | * ''Series/BecomingElizabeth'' (2022) |
| 53 | * ''Series/{{Blindspotting}}'' (2021-2023) |
| 54 | * ''Series/{{Boss}}'' (2011-12) |
| 55 | * ''Series/BlackSails'' (2014-17) |
| 56 | * ''Series/BluntTalk'' (2015-16) |
| 57 | * ''Series/{{Camelot}}'' (2011) |
| 58 | * ''Series/{{The Chair|2014}}'' (2014) |
| 59 | * ''Series/{{Counterpart|2018}}'' (2017-19) |
| 60 | * ''WesternAnimation/DanVs'' (2011-13; produced by Starz but aired on [[Creator/DiscoveryFamily The Hub]]) |
| 61 | * ''Series/DaVincisDemons'' (2013-15) |
| 62 | * ''Series/DublinMurders'' (2019) |
| 63 | * ''Series/FleshAndBone'' (2015) |
| 64 | * ''Series/{{Gaslit}}'' (2022) |
| 65 | * ''Series/{{Heels}}'' (2021-2023) |
| 66 | * ''Series/{{Hightown}}'' (2020-2024) |
| 67 | * ''Series/MagicCity'' (2012-13) |
| 68 | * ''Series/MastersOfHorror'' (2005-2007, produced by Starz but aired on Showtime) |
| 69 | ** ''Series/MastersOfScienceFiction'' (2007, produced by Starz but aired on Creator/{{ABC}}) |
| 70 | * ''Series/TheMissing2014'' (2014, 2016) |
| 71 | * '''''Series/{{Outlander}}''''' (2014-present) |
| 72 | * ''Series/PartyDown'' (2009-10, 2023) |
| 73 | * ''Series/ThePillarsOfTheEarth'' (2010) |
| 74 | * ''Series/{{Power}}'' (2014-20) |
| 75 | ** '''''Power Book II: Ghost''''' (2020-present) |
| 76 | ** '''''Power Book III: Raising Kanan''''' (2021-present) |
| 77 | ** '''''Power Book IV: Force''''' (2022-present) |
| 78 | * '''''Series/PValley''''' (2020-present) |
| 79 | * ''Series/TheRook'' (2019) |
| 80 | * '''''Series/TheSerpentQueen''''' (2022-present) |
| 81 | * ''Series/ShiningVale'' (2022-2023) |
| 82 | * ''Series/TheSpanishPrincess'' (2019-20) |
| 83 | * ''Series/SpartacusBloodAndSand'' (2010-13) |
| 84 | * ''Film/StepUp'' (2022)[[note]]Season 3; prior seasons aired on Website/{{YouTube}} Premium as ''Step Up: High Water''[[/note]] |
| 85 | * ''Series/TorchwoodMiracleDay'' (2011) |
| 86 | * ''Series/{{Vida}}'' (2018-20) |
| 87 | * ''Series/TheWhitePrincess'' (2017) |
| 88 | [[/index]] |
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