Bloomberg Talks Starz Entertainment Corp President & CEO Jeffrey Hirsch Talks Streaming
Jun 2, 2025
Jeffrey Hirsch, President and CEO of STARZ Entertainment Corp, shares insights on reshaping the company into a major production powerhouse post-separation from Lionsgate. He highlights STARZ's commitment to inclusive storytelling aimed at women and underrepresented communities. The conversation dives into the strategic content development set for 2026, focusing on the significance of content ownership and enhancing profit margins. Hirsch discusses the delicate balance between streaming and traditional TV, revealing how consumer behaviors are evolving in the subscription landscape.
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Starz's Target Audience Strategy
- Starz focuses on women and underrepresented audiences with adult, R-rated content without ads.
- This niche makes Starz a complementary streaming service to broad-based competitors like Netflix and HBO.
Outlander’s Popularity and Prequel
- Outlander is one of Starz's biggest shows, with a prequel releasing in August 2024.
- The prequel explores a romantic story and WWI backdrop, highlighting Starz’s content depth.
Starz's Content Investment Plan
- Starz plans to spend roughly $700 million on content in 2026 to support originals and licensing windows.
- Owning newer shows and leveraging international sales helps improve profit margins by 2028.