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Starz and Verizon face potential blackout amid carriage dispute
Starz and Verizon are engaged in a carriage dispute that threatens to remove Starz channels, Starz On Demand, and the Starz app from the Verizon Fios platform. The two companies have issued conflicting statements regarding the status of their licensing negotiations.
Starz President Alison Hoffman stated that the network has been negotiating in good faith but accused Verizon of being unproductive and mischaracterizing the company's position. Starz emphasized its role as an independent programmer serving diverse audiences. Conversely, Verizon expressed disappointment with Starz's public warnings, labeling them as unnecessary pressure tactics while maintaining that they remain engaged in constructive discussions.
As of the end of 2025, Starz reported 17.6 million total subscribers, with approximately 12.7 million of those being U.S. streaming subscribers. While the dispute affects Fios customers, Starz remains available via independent streaming platforms.
Entities
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [● 3 SOURCES] The dispute threatens the availability of Starz channels, Starz On Demand, and the Starz app for Verizon Fios customers. www.advanced-television.com · deadline.com · variety.com
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Verizon has been unproductive in negotiations and mischaracterized Starz's position. www.advanced-television.com
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Verizon claims it remains actively engaged in constructive discussions and views Starz's public warnings as unnecessary pressure tactics. variety.com
- [● 2 SOURCES] Starz reported having 17.6 million total subscribers at the end of 2025. deadline.com · variety.com
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Starz had 12.7 million U.S. streaming subscribers at the close of the October-December quarter. variety.com