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Lionsgate Looking to Spin Off Studio Biz, Rebrands Starzplay as Lionsgate+

Lionsgate is now looking to spin off its studio business, in addition to the previously disclosed Starz separation. In a regulatory filing, Santa Monica, Calif.-based Lionsgate said that as negotiations progress on the separation of the Starz and studio business, interest in spinning off the latter’s theatrical, TV production and home entertainment businesses increased.

“We have increased our focus on the possibility of spinning our studio business, creating a number of financial and strategic benefits,” Lionsgate said in a statement.

The studio business segment generated revenue of $711 million in the most-recent fiscal quarter. Segment profit topped $70 million. Home entertainment revenue topped $186 million. Revenue from Lionsgate’s 17,000-title film and television library was $749 million for the trailing 12 months through June 30.

Separately, Lionsgate announced that its Starz-branded international streaming service, Starzplay, launched in 2018, is rebranding as Lionsgate+ in 35 countries with a new look and graphics package rolling out on Sept. 29.

Starz will remain the brand name in the United States and Canada. Brand names for StarzPlay Arabia along with South and Southeast Asia’s Lionsgate Play will remain in place.

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“Operating under Lionsgate+ internationally brings a distinct and differentiated identity in an increasingly crowded international marketplace and builds on the brand equity in the Lionsgate name that our extensive research has proven is strong around the world,” Jeffrey Hirsch, president/CEO of Starz, said in a statement.

Lionsgate+ subscribers have access to a library of exclusive, premium content that includes original series premiering globally on the same day as the U.S., including political thriller “Gaslit,” the upcoming series “Dangerous Liaisons,” along with a series set in the universe of the “Power” franchise.

The platform is also home to Spanish language original series such as drama “Señorita 89,” sci-fi thriller “El Refugio,” crime drama “Express,” the genre-bending series “The Great,” and the action-thriller series “Gangs of London,” among others.

Since its initial launch, coupled with its StarzPlay Arabia joint venture, Starz’s global footprint has expanded into 63 countries throughout Asia, Canada, Europe, Latin America, MENA and South and Southeast Asia.

Lionsgate+ branded markets include:

Europe: Austria, Belgium, Denmark, France, Finland, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and U.K.
Latin America: Argentina, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Venezuela
APAC: Australia and Japan
Markets with unique Starz branding include:
Asia: South and Southeast Asia (Lionsgate Play)
North America: U.S. and Canada (Starz)
MENA: All territories (StarzPlay Arabia)

Brazil’s Globoplay Offering Streaming Access to Lionsgate’s Starzplay

Brazil subscription streaming platform Globoplay May 12 announced it has partnered with Lionsgate’s international SVOD service Starzplay, offering its subscribers access to the latter’s platform and content.

With more than 220 million residents, Brazil is a major South American market for U.S. media companies, including streaming video. Starzplay has about 2 million subs, while Globoplay reported 30 million subs in 2021.

Starzplay content includes political drama Gaslit, starring Julia Roberts and Sean Penn, four “Power” action series, movie Shining Vale, starring Courteney Cox, Señorita 89, The Spanish Princess, and upcoming new series “Becoming Elizabeth” and “El Refugio,” among others.

“[This deal] will help strengthen Starzplay’s presence in Brazil and give subscribers even more access to our extensive offering of curated content,” Superna Kalle, president of Starz international networks, said in a statement.

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“Starz content delights global audiences and makes a profound cultural impact,” said Erick Bretas, director of digital products at Group Globo. “It is an honor for us to offer Globoplay subscribers another possibility to combine high quality products with the convenience of being able to watch everything from the same place, without having to change apps.”

StarzPlay SVOD Service Adds South Asian Channels in Deal With Star TV

Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region SVOD service StarzPlay has signed a deal with Star TV network to feature six of its entertainment channels, expanding into the South Asian entertainment segment.

StarzPlay has introduced an all-new dedicated South Asian entertainment package that features Star Plus ME, Star Gold International, Jalsha Movies, Asianet Movies, Star Vijay International and Asianet ME channels.

“Over the years, we have built strategic partnerships to offer rich and relevant content to our diverse audience,” Maaz Sheikh, CEO of StarzPlay, said in a statement. “Our latest association with Star TV network is an expansion of our content offering as we enter the Asian entertainment space which is hugely popular and loved in this region. This new deal is dedicated to our South Asian subscribers who can enjoy the very best of TV entertainment with our new package. Star TV is a much-loved TV network in the region, and we are proud to associate with them to further expand their reach across the MENA region.”

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“We are delighted to associate with StarzPlay to offer world-class entertainment to South Asian audiences in the region,” Sudhir Nagpal, SVP and head of international business at Star India, said in a statement. “The MENA region has a large number of South Asian expatriates, and we are excited to bring our compelling and multi-lingual portfolio through the region’s leading streaming service — StarzPlay. We constantly explore opportunities to reach our audiences through new avenues and this association with StarzPlay is a step further to reach out to viewers across the Middle Eastern region.”

Subscribers can find an assortment of multi-lingual programming via the six new Star TV channels. Three cricket channels, CricLife Max, CricLife and CricLife 2, that StarzPlay already has access to through a separate deal with Etisalat also will be part of this package.

Parrot: Demand for Starz Original Series Way Higher Than Average TV Show

Parrot Analytics June 28 reported an analysis of audience demand across top streaming networks that found Starz’s premium programming delivers the highest hit rate, with the most in-demand series, both domestically and internationally.

In the United States, Parrot Analytics said that in the 12-month period ended June 19, a Starz original series generated five times as much demand as an average TV series. Demand for Starz series is higher than that of any other streaming service’s series, with Disney+ at No. 2 and HBO at No. 3.

Parrot Analytics also reported that Starz originals are even more in-demand on a global scale: With 5.38 times the global TV series demand average, a Starz original is 6.1% more demanded internationally than it is domestically. Furthermore, on a global scale, the average Starz original is 12.6% ahead of the next-best performing platform’s average original series.

Parrot Analytics measures demand with a proprietary metric called Demand Expressions, which factors in a wide variety of data sources, including video streaming, social media activity, photo sharing, blogging, commenting on fan and critic rating platforms, and downloading and streaming via peer-to-peer protocols and file sharing sites.

In an adjacent study, Parrot Analytics has found that the typical Starz title travels internationally, across its Starzplay platform, 74% better than the typical Netflix series, and 60% better than the typical HBO series. Markets that have scored highly for “Power Book II: Ghost,” for example, include South Africa, with 82% “travelability” (a measure of a series’ global appeal relative to the appeal in its home market). Kenya scored 81%, followed by France (76%), China (74%) and the United Kingdom (71%).

The average Starz title also has 41% more longevity than the global average; high longevity indicates series that are good at maintaining audience demand.

Jeffrey Hirsch, Starz president and CEO, said in a statement in a Parrot Analytics news release, “These results reinforce Starz’s proven ability to bring audiences high-quality premium programming, which we believe is key to success over raw scale. With our most robust slate ever, Starz is continuing to deliver exceptional premium programming focused on amplifying narratives by, about and for women and underrepresented audiences.”

Parrot Analytics reports that the Starz network between January and April had four out of the ten most in-demand diverse series. These highly demanded diverse series are “Power Book II: Ghost” (13.1 times more demand in the U.S. than the average TV series), “Power” (11.4x), “P-Valley” (9.8x) and “Vida” (9.0x).

“Starz is not afraid to tell the stories of women and audiences that have been traditionally underrepresented on television,” said Wared Seger, CEO of Parrot Analytics.

StarzPlay Starts Production on First Series Filmed in Spain

StarzPlay March 16 announced the start of production on “Express,” the streamer’s first international original series to be filmed and produced in Spain. The action thriller will be available through the platform’s service in Spain and Latin America, and in the United States on Pantaya, Lionsgate’s Spanish-language SVOD.

Produced by The MediaPro Studio, the eight-episode, one-hour series is scheduled to shoot for 17 weeks on location in and around the city of Madrid.

“Express” is the first local production from StarzPlay, which is creating international originals through co-production opportunities to further curate its content offering for subscribers.

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“Express” tells the story of a criminal psychologist, Bárbara (Maggie Civantos), and her family after she becomes the victim of one of the newest, virally spreading forms of violent crime…express kidnappings.

Other cast members include Goya award-nominated Kiti Mánver (“El Inconveniente,” “Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown”), Vicente Romero (“Malaka,” “Cell 211”) Loreto Mauleón (“Patria”), Esteban Meloni (“Los Internacionales,” “Vidas robadas”), Alba Planas (“SKAM”), Ana Marzoa (“Locked Up,” “Lifeline”), Omar Banana (“Veneno”, “Amor superdotado”), Bernardo Flores (“Women in Charge”) and the young actresses Carmen Daza and Manuela Rojas.

The MediaPro Studio Distribution will manage the series’ international sales.

Discovery+ Launches in MENA Territories Via Starzplay

Discovery has formed a strategic partnership with the Starzplay SVOD service to launch its SVOD service Discovery+ across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) territories.

The deal allows Starzplay subscribers to watch Discovery+ content within a dedicated branded area across all Starzplay platforms in 18 countries and territories across MENA.

The Discovery+ service features a range of exclusive content and series across lifestyle and relationships; home and food; true crime; paranormal; adventure and natural history; science, tech and environment; and many high-quality documentaries.

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“The launch of discovery+ across MENA represents a major step toward adding 18 additional countries and territories to the global expansion of the platform, giving customers options to access the content that they love and have come to expect from Discovery,” Kasia Kieli, Discovery president and MD EMEA, said in a statement.

“The unprecedented growth of online streaming has driven the need for compelling content that provides value for subscribers,” Maaz Sheikh, CEO and co-founder of Starzplay, said in a statement. “We have built strategic partnerships to offer our subscribers more online content and varied choices We are confident that the discovery+ add on will be welcomed by the MENA audience and we look forward to growing this partnership further.”

Global Discovery+ franchises include “Shark Week,” “MythBusters,” “Gold Rush,” “Expedition Unknown,” “House Hunters International,” “90 Day Fiancé,” “NASA’s Unexplained Files” and “Say Yes to the Dress.” Subscribers also have access to Discovery+ originals, including “The Impossible Row,” “Amy Schumer Learns to Cook (Uncensored)” and “JonBenet Ramsey: What Really Happened?”

Additionally, Discovery+ will offer programs from the home of Arabic cooking, Fatafeat, along with a collection of environmental programming with access to the BBC’s natural history library, including “Planet Earth” and “Blue Planet.”

Discovery+ is available for an additional subscription price.

Starzplay Available Through Apple TV in Middle East, North Africa

Starzplay, Starz’s video-on-demand streaming service, is now available to customers across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region through Apple TV channels on the Apple TV app on iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, iPod touch, Mac, and select Samsung and LG smart TVs.

The service offers Hollywood and Arabic movies, TV shows, documentaries, kids’ entertainment and original content. Customers in the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Bahrain, Qatar, Lebanon, Jordan and Egypt can sign up for a seven-day free trial and subscribe directly to Starzplay on the Apple TV app for $11 per month (prices vary by region).

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“Online streaming in the region is growing faster than ever,” Danny Bates, CCO and co-founder at Starzplay, said in a statement. “As the region’s leading video streaming service, we constantly look for innovative avenues to offer quality content to hungry audiences. Offering Starzplay through Apple TV channels will open up a whole new customer base and further drive the growth of the video streaming market in MENA. We are proud to be the first major content partner for Apple TV channels in the MENA region and look forward to unveiling more compelling content on the platform.”

Subscribers through Apple TV channels can watch online on demand or watch offline downloads of on the Apple TV app. With Family Sharing, up to six friends or family members can share subscriptions to Apple TV channels using just their Apple ID and password.

Rakuten TV Adds StarzPlay

Online TV platform Rakuten TV is now offering subscribers access to StarzPlay, the Lionsgate/Starz-owned international SVOD service.

Rakuten TV users from Spain, the United Kingdom, Italy, France and Germany will have access to the SVOD service, starting with a free trial, then a monthly fee of £4.99/€4.99/$6.35 . The content will be available within the Rakuten TV app on Smart TVs, web and mobile devices.

“StarzPlay will allow us to enrich our current proposition providing an always more varied and extensive offer within the platform, we are very excited about this new launch,” Teresa López, European content director at Rakuten TV, said in a statement.

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“This multi-territory partnership creates an exciting opportunity for StarzPlay to expand our reach in the marketplace and introduce new audiences to our vast library of compelling series and films,” added Superna Kalle, EVP of International Digital Networks for Starz. “We look forward to deepening our relationship with European viewers through Rakuten TV, who shares our commitment to providing audiences with premium content paired with a user-friendly experience.”

Lionsgate Eyeing Consumer-Direct Movie Option While Pledging Loyalty to Theatrical

With studios increasing distribution of select titles direct to consumers in the home while theaters remain largely shuttered worldwide, Lionsgate has dabbled in the PVOD window, releasing I Still Believe to consumers just weeks after its March 12 theatrical debut.

On a May 21 fiscal call, Joe Drake, chairman of the Lionsgate Motion Picture Group, was asked if the studio would consider distributing titles directly rather than through third-party platforms such as iTunes, Google Play, Vudu and Amazon, among others.

Drake, who said Lionsgate remains bullish on the theatrical business model, said the D2C concept, like a lot of the distribution status-quo during the COVID-19 pandemic, is being analyzed and tweaked, while remaining in solidarity with the theatrical window.

“One of the things [Lionsgate] prides itself on is being flexible and agile,” Drake said. “We still believe theatrical is a big driver of our business, and will continue to play aggressively in that space.”

Lionsgate’s first theatrical release is slated for Aug. 21 with horror film Antebellum.

At the same time, the executive said that when the studio sees an opportunity for distributing a movie direct to the consumer, it won’t hesitate. Drake didn’t directly answer whether that would include bypassing existing transactional VOD platforms in favor of Starz or another proprietary platform.

Lionsgate currently releases about 30 movies a year through digital channels, a strategy Drake said the studio would expand, but not at the expense of exhibition partners.

“I don’t think any company has done a better job exploiting niches and opportunities with audiences, and we’ll continue to do that,” he said.

Separately, Lionsgate said it is actively working with credit card companies such as American Express to include free Starz OTT service as part of a promotion. The studio/distributor currently has a Redbox promotion by which new Starz subscribers get nine free one-day kiosk disc rentals at a $5 monthly fee for 90 days.

“We think some of [those] consumer bases [with Redbox] overlap. We think there’s a great partnership there. We’ll continue to talk to almost anybody,” said Kevin Beggs, chairman of Lionsgate Television Group.

Lionsgate expects to generate upwards of 15 million combined Starz OTT, StarzPlay, Spanish-language Pantaya and StarzArabia subscribers by the end of the fiscal year. It ended the quarter with 10 million.

Discovery, StarzPlay Partner for SVOD Distribution

Discovery and StarzPlay March 16 announced a partnership that will see the former’s Dplay streaming video service available across the Middle East and Asia (MENA) on StarzPlay, Starz’s international SVOD based in Dubai with more than 1 million subscribers.

The agreement affords StarzPlay subs access to thousands of hours of content, segregated into playlists dedicated to specially curated interest verticals — including crime, lifestyle, food, wildlife and more. New content will be added to the platform each month.

Discovery TV franchises include “Shark Week,” “MythBusters,” “Gold Rush,” “Expedition Unknown,” “House Hunters International” and “Say Yes to the Dress,” among others.

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“This is the first time Discovery is taking its content beyond the pay-TV universe in the region and opening it up to a whole new customer base,” Amanda Turnbull, GM, Discovery Middle East & Africa, said in a statement. “As we commence our pivot toward digital, this milestone sets the benchmark for Discovery’s continued growth in the digital space.”

Following a free trial period of up to one-month (varies across the region), monthly subscription to the content costs AED/SAR15 ($4) per month as an add-on package.

“With this partnership we are starting a new chapter in company’s growth to become the one-stop shop for premium content,” said Danny Bates, chief commercial officer of StarzPlay.”

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Dplay will be available in Q2 2020, through existing StarzPlay apps, including Apple TV. StarzPlay is available to download online and via respective iOS and Android app stores.