Comcast, Starz Reach Carriage Deal

Comcast NBCU and Starz announced a new carriage deal ahead of the current contract’s Dec 31 expiration.

Under the new agreement, the Starz flagship premium channel, as well as the Starz Encore suite of channel—including Encore, Encore Westerns, Encore Black, and Encore Action—and related video on demand content will continue to be available to Xfinity customers, for now. Starz is expected to stay in its current packages through the final season of “Power,” which debuts next month.

Eventually, the content will proceed down a “path for an orderly transition to an à la carte business,” the two said. Starz content will also see expanded distribution on Comcast’s Flex offering, its free streaming offering for HSD customers.

The agreement includes a new content deal between Lionsgate and NBCU that will see licensed Lionsgate content on upcoming streaming service Peacock. NBCU will also license content to Starz to be featured in the US and on its international streaming service, STARZPLAY. Financial terms weren’t disclosed.

“We are pleased that we were able to extend the partnership to Peacock and other businesses within Comcast while also ensuring Xfinity customers continue to enjoy great Starz programming,” said Dana Strong, President of Consumer Services for Comcast Cable.

“We look forward to continuing our longstanding partnership with Comcast to deliver great content and great value to our customers,” said Starz President and CEO Jeffrey Hirsch. “Our ongoing relationship with Comcast reflects our ability to unlock opportunities across all of our businesses to the benefit of our subscribers.”