Starz Review: Originals, Movies Are an Antidote for Netflix Burnout - CNET
You probably know Starz best as a premium cable channel like Cinemax or Showtime, but the network leans hard into streaming too. Starz has invested heavily in its original programming slate with the ever-expanding Power universe and series such as Hightown, a strategy that has paid off with audiences. Fans -- including me -- enjoy P-Valley (which holds a 100% rating with Rotten Tomatoes critics), year-round Power spinoffs and the critically acclaimed Outlander. And you can stream Starz for less than the cost of Netflix.
Like
- New episodes release early
- Unlimited downloads for offline viewing
- Quality original shows
- Ad-free episodes
Don't Like
- Original aspect ratio cropped in some movies
- Choppy playback on phones
- Starz logo lingers in movies
Power and BMF executive producer 50 Cent never misses an opportunity to instruct viewers to "Get the app!" The app he's talking about launched in 2016 and doesn't require a cable subscription. Starz reported that its streaming customers shot up to 18 million by the end of 2021, reflecting a 40% year-over-year jump.
While Starz may not have a large stable of content like Netflix and Hulu, the company recently made moves to compete with the big dogs. It's the exclusive streaming home of Sony's Spider-Man: No Way Home, Venom: Let There Be Carnage and Ghostbusters: Afterlife, all expected later this year. The company is now locked in a deal with Universal to air films following their theatrical releases. You can count on it to stream major features including Jurassic World: Dominion, The 355, Ambulance and Jennifer Lopez's Marry Me.
Starz also has a way of attracting rock-star talent. The Foo Fighters' debut horror flick Studio 666 will land on the platform this year after it hits theaters on Feb. 25. And if you happened to catch the 2022 Super Bowl halftime show, you may have enjoyed the hip-hop icons like Snoop Dogg and Mary J. Blige who graced the stage. With the exception of Dr. Dre, each performer has appeared in a Starz TV series in a recurring or guest role (yes, Eminem too).
But why should you follow 50 Cent's advice and download the app, let alone subscribe for $9 a month? For one thing, it's a low price for a service with Starz's selection and no commercials interrupting what you watch. The network also stands apart by promoting diversity and representation in its originals, elevating the voices of women and people of color. This approach contributes to its growing subscriber base and makes Starz an intriguing alternative to its better-known rivals, especially after the latest Netflix price hike.
Starz vs. Netflix, HBO Max, Hulu, Disney Plus
| | Netflix | HBO Max | Disney Plus | Hulu | Starz |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly price | Starts at $10 | $10 for basic with ads, $15 for ad-free | $7 | Basic $7 with ads, ad-free Premium for $12, Live TV for $55 | $9 |
| Ads | No | No | No | Yes | No |
| Availability | Now | Now | Now | Now | Now |
| Top titles | Stranger Things, The Office, Breaking Bad, 13 Reasons Why, Tiger King | Game of Thrones, Friends, Big Bang Theory, Rick and Morty, Sesame Street | The Mandalorian, Avengers Endgame, Toy Story, The Simpsons | Handmaid's Tale, Catch-22, Lost, Bob's Burgers | Power Book II: Ghost, Outlander, BMF, Power Book III: Raising Kanan, P-Valley |
| Mobile downloads | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 4K HDR available | Yes (on Premium plan) | No | Yes | Yes | No |
| Number of streams | 1 (2 for Standard, 4 on Premium) | 3 | 4 | 2 (Unlimited with Live TV $10 add-on) | 4 |
Starz streaming app vs. Starz cable channels
The Starz stand-alone app is available for $9 a month. However, there are two Starz premium cable options: Starz and Starz Encore, a suite of niche content. Sometimes they're both included as part of a bundle. Other times, they're sold separately. Starz Encore is mostly new theatrical releases and '70s films.
If you pay for the Starz channel through a cable or satellite TV provider or as an add-on to a streaming service such as Hulu, you can sign in to the Starz app at no additional charge. All of Starz's content is available on the app, but note that Xfinity prohibits its subscribers from using the app.
DirecTV Stream offers Starz as a premium channel (with app access) for $11 a month, while most other providers charge $9 monthly. Unlike HBO Max, for example, the Starz app doesn't have multiple price tiers. Instead, the streaming service offers a single flat rate for its ad-free content, with no option to pay less if you watch ads.
Outlander with Sophie Skelton, Caitriona Balfe, Sam Heughan.
To save a little money, you can subscribe to a three-month plan for $20 or a six-month package for $44, which knock off $7 and $10, respectively, over paying monthly. There's a standard seven-day free trial for new users, but you can keep your eyes peeled for special promotions.
The Starz catalog includes films and flagship originals
Starz has more than 800 movies and 80 television shows in its catalog. Viewers can take in all of its originals on the app, including popular series such as P-Valley, award-winning Outlander, Heels, The White Queen, American Gods, BMF, Black Sails, Ash Vs. Evil Dead, Blindspotting and the Power franchise.
Once upon a time Power was the number two show on cable after Game of Thrones, bringing in an average audience of roughly 8 million, according to Deadline. These days, Power Book IV: Force and Power Book II: Ghost are pulling in big viewership numbers that rival shows on Showtime and HBO Max. And a 2021 report from Parrot Analytics found that demand for Starz originals is higher than Disney Plus, HBO Max, and Netflix -- domestically and globally.
Like its streaming competitors, Starz rotates its film selection based on licensing agreements, so some titles are only available for a limited time. Film choices include every Saw installment -- including Spiral, starring Chris Rock -- along with Here Today (starring Billy Crystal and Tiffany Haddish), Inglourious Basterds, Forrest Gump, Iron Man 3 and Johnny Depp's City of Lies.
Starz's Power content displayed on screen.
Sarah Tew/CNETThe new Universal agreement also opens the gates to titles from Blumhouse, Focus Features, plus select movies in the Universal Filmed Entertainment Group library including the Despicable Me and Minions films. The deal affects theatrical releases in 2022 and beyond, enabling Starz to broadcast the studio's big titles exclusively approximately 18 months after their release dates.
Upcoming projects include a greenlit second season of Men in Kilts: A Roadtrip with Sam and Graham, the 50 Cent-produced Queen Nzinga, a John Wick prequel series and a BMF documentary. But Starz is currently gearing up to release the highly anticipated Power Book IV: Force in February. It'll also launch Courteney Cox's Shining Vale, a new dark comedy with a horror slant that lands in March.
Starz President of Domestic Networks Alison Hoffman told CNET that much of the brand's success can be attributed to its lineup of diverse content. With women and people of color helming many of the network's series, the company prides itself on listening to its audience, casts and showrunners by telling stories that may not be represented elsewhere. Additionally, Hoffman shared that Starz is focused on beefing up its original programming slate in the coming year.