The game is changing for film distribution as we know it, thanks in no small part to the ongoing pandemic. With the movie theater industry hanging in the balance after over one year of the damn virus, the ways we see the latest and greatest from Hollywood has had to be adapted and, in some cases, overhauled in order for the industry to stay afloat. This week, another step in the evolution of streaming has been taken.
Following in the footsteps of WarnerMedia and its streaming service HBO Max, STARZ has announced that it will host the upcoming films of Lionsgate and its Summit Entertainment label on its streaming service, as part of a first-window deal announced this week. The deal will begin after current deals expire at the end of this year and into the beginning of next year, meaning that while we may not get the upcoming Spiral: From the Book of SAW on STARZ right away, future installments will get their initial runs on the service.
The deal will also bring franchises such as John Wick, Borderlands, and even The Hunger Games to STARZ. There are also plans for as many as sixteen original series for the channel, any of which, along with the aforementioned film franchises could help move what the CEO Jeff Hirsch himself calls a “B-tier service” right into the A-tier, with any luck.
This could be the biggest move for the two companies since the merger in 2016, and has some serious potential to shake up the streaming game. It is worth pointing out, though, that Hulu currently holds the Lionsgate license, at least till later this year, so we may not see much until this time next year. That in mind, it’s still an exciting time.
Comments