IP Play

Starz Ent continues to push the multi-platform envelope with its “Starz Play” broadband video service, which Verizon has opened to its FiOS Internet and HSI subs. The service offers subscription-based content downloads from the same programming pool of more than 1K movies used by Starz' direct-to-consumer product Vongo, and was picked up by the telco through a new affil pact that also includes Starz' premium linear channels and related VOD plays. The service also features a live streaming East Coast feed of Starz TV. “Our real focus has always been a wholesale product that we could offer to affiliates as an extension of the Starz brand,” said Starz Ent pres/COO Bill Myers, who sees opportunities for similar affil agreements and said touted the service as the “right value proposition long-term for the consumer.” It also gives Starz additional tentacles into the on-demand world it already fills with linear VOD and Vongo. “IP is now of interest to a lot of people,” said Myers, who favors SVOD models over ad-supported and/or transactional initiatives. The latter pair may respectively aggregate a great number of eyeballs and seem beneficial to consumers, he said, but a sub model balances the desires of both content owners and viewers.