Karen Schwartz Bailey
SVP, Original Programming, Starz Entertainment
“The growth and importance of the on-demand market in 2016 has been really astounding. What used to be a bonus for subscribers—a backup in the event you forgot to hit “record” on your DVR—is now rapidly becoming the main path in which viewers consume programming.” Wise words from the woman who oversees new development and current productions at Starz, including “Outlander,” “The White Queen” and its sequel “The White Princess.” Bailey also secured the sequel to the limited series “The Missing” with BBC1.
What advice would you give your 13-year-old self?
Sleep more, worry less and know that all the self-imposed teenage drama is temporary. – for real! It’s temporary!
Which current programming best reflects the kind of women’s roles you like to see and why?
Well, I am obviously very biased in this response, because I am the point executive on the two shows I am about to name; but I feel that “Outlander” and “The White Princess”
have captured the female gaze in unique and refreshing ways. The female protagonist Claire in “Outlander” is a strong, intelligent heroine, who is not ashamed of her sexuality and does not apologize for her difficult choices. “The White Princess” highlights the story of three strong woman who are living in a man’s world and must survive by using all the weapons in their arsenal; mainly, their wits. A female-centric show on another network that deserves a “shout-out” is “Happy Valley.” Sarah Lancashire’s performance is so brilliantly understated. She is a powerful presence, and no one’s victim.
What’s been the biggest story in cable this year?
There are so many big stories in the various sectors of this industry, that it’s hard to narrow down one. I would say as an entertainment content provider, the growth and importance of the on-demand market in 2016 has been really astounding. What used to be a bonus for subscribers – a backup in the event you forgot to hit “record” on your DVR – is now rapidly becoming the main path in which viewers consume programming. For the first time this year, a major network has announced it will no longer track same-day TV ratings. Instead, it will report three-day and seven-day results. I suspect other networks will follow in short order, and the future for many shows will alter tremendously.
