As part of the deal, flagship Starz channel, on-demand content as well as Encore, Encore Westerns, Encore Black and Encore Action channels will be available to Xfinity TV customers and on Flex, Comcast`s Roku-style streaming aggregator. Comcast Corp. and Lions Gate Entertainment Corp., owner of premium cable channel Starz, have reached a new distribution agreement for the network after months of tense negotiations. A new Comcast transport agreement for Starz also removes a major hurdle for Lionsgate, as in the era of cable cutting, the Premium channel is focused on pay-as-you-go, online and international subscribers. The latest pact was preceded by Comcast`s warning that they would lose access to new episodes of hit shows such as Power, Outlander and Vida, with the competing epix service having been exchanged for its premium offers. When announcing the deal, Comcast and Starz took only an oblique indication of the postponement and found that the deal allowed sites to find “a path for an orderly transition to an à la carte business.” The companies did not disclose the financial terms of the deal. They also didn`t say when Starz would be removed from the packages, or how much Comcast would charge customers to subscribe directly to Starz, which carries popular shows like Outlander and Power. The deal ends a controversial contract dispute that has drawn the attention of lawmakers, including a U.S. senator who asked the U.S. Department of Justice to ensure fair competition in the market and sparked small protests outside Comcast`s headquarters. Starz had launched an advertising campaign asking customers to call Comcast and complain. Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson, executive producer of Power, defended lawmakers on Capitol Hill and attacked Brian Roberts, CEO of Comcast, on social media. The financial terms of the agreement between Comcast NBCUniversal and Starz were not disclosed.
Changes like this are not new to cable subscribers, as they have long been exposed to temporary power outages when cable companies and networks/studios have struggled to reach agreements in the past. For example, Comcast and CBS were about to end their partnership because they couldn`t reach a deal in 2010. How things have changed in a decade. At the end of the day, those who suffer the consequences of these failed agreements are customers. In the survey below, let`s see how you all feel about it? Under the new agreement, flagship channel STARZ Premium, starz ENCORE-Kanalsuite – including Encore, Encore Westerns, Encore Black and Encore Action – and associated video-on-demand content will remain available to Xfinity customers with expanded distribution on the Comcast Flex platform and a way to get in order to an à la carte store. The deal, announced Monday, prevents a Starz blackout on Dec. 31 if his current contract expires, while Starz content from Comcast`s Xfinity TV packages will be converted into an à la carte offer. The deal also allows NBCUniversal to stream movies and shows from Lionsgate — starz`s parent company — on its upcoming streaming service called Peacock. NBCUniversal will also grant starz content for home use and on its international streaming service….