The blackout is over. Starz and its ancillary properties are back on Verizon Fios after the two sides inked a new carriage pact, ending a standoff that had left Fios customers in the dark since late September.
Starz on Verizon Fios (Credits: Variety)
Starz announced on Tuesday, October 20 that all of its networks, on-demand services, and the Starz app were once again available to Verizon subscribers. The channel went dark on Fios late on September 30 after the two companies failed to reach terms on a new distribution deal — a dispute that quickly got ugly, with 50 Cent publicly blasting Verizon CEO Dan Schulman over the blackout of his Power Universe shows.
A Bitter Fight Over Fees
At the heart of the clash was money. Verizon complained that Starz was selling its streaming service directly to consumers for as little as $2.50 a month while demanding Fios customers pay double for the same content. Starz president Alison Hoffman accused Verizon of “mischaracterizing” its position and refusing to negotiate, arguing the blackout would deprive viewers of programming built for underrepresented audiences — including the Power franchise, Outlander, P-Valley, and S.W.A.T. Exiles.
Back on the Lineup
“We are pleased to have reached a mutually beneficial agreement that brings Starz’s premium programming to Verizon Fios customers,” Hoffman said in a statement. The restoration returns the full slate — from the Power Universe and Outlander: Blood of My Blood to the upcoming Power: Origins — without subscribers needing new equipment or package changes. As usual in carriage fights, the financial terms were not disclosed.
Source: Variety — read the full story there.
