A new STARZ channel and streaming service will launch in Canada, beginning Friday, March 1. Lionsgate-owned STARZ is the second most-watched pay TV service in the U.S., delivering premium content, including series like Vida, Counterpart and Sweetbitter, in addition to Lionsgate series like Nurse Jackie, and a growing roster of feature films.
On March 1, Bell Media pay television network Encore will rebrand as STARZ across two linear channels and on-demand platforms. The following week, STARZ will be available direct to Canadians as an add-on to Crave for an additional $5.99/month.
The addition of STARZ to Crave’s offerings comes as the streaming service announces that its current subscriber base has reached 2.3 million subscribers since its re-launch last November, which saw content from the former CraveTV, HBO Canada and The Movie Network, rolled into one service.
“Bringing STARZ to Canada is testimony to the continued commitment to offer our viewers exclusive, premium programming at an unparalleled value,” said Tracey Pearce, President, Distribution and Pay. “Our amazing partners at Starz have been integral to this mandate with their genre-bending, stand-out programming, making the addition of STARZ a must-have for discerning Canadian viewers.”
“The unique opportunity to bring STARZ to viewers on both linear and digital platforms simultaneously makes Bell Media the ideal partner in Canada. We are excited to see this opportunity come to fruition and look forward to introducing Canadian audiences to all of the premium content that STARZ has to offer,” said Superna Kalle, Executive Vice President, International Digital Networks.
STARZ Content
All-new originals:
- NOW APOCALYPSE (March 10)
- THE ROOK (2019)
Current hits:
- COUNTERPART (Season 1 and 2)
- SWEETBITTER
- VIDA
Acclaimed library series:
- BOSS (Seasons 1-2)
- BLACK SAILS (Seasons 1-4)
- SURVIVOR’S REMORSE (Seasons 1-2)
- MAGIC CITY (Seasons 1-2)
- POWER (Seasons 1-4)
Fan-favourite limited series:
- THE GIRLFRIEND EXPERIENCE (Season 1)
- THE WHITE QUEEN
- THE WHITE PRINCESS
Lionsgate series and films:
- NURSE JACKIE (Seasons 1-7)
- I LOVE YOU, AMERICA (Seasons 1-2)
- 3:10: to Yuma, Daybreakers, Crash, Battle Royale, Buffalo ’66, American Psycho, and more than 80 more (beginning April)
