Rich Fiscus
27 May 2008 17:35
Verizon has begun offering subscribers a new video download service from Starz Entertainment. Called Starz Play, it offers unlimited movie downloads, as well as access to live streams from the various Starz and Encore cable channels. The service costs $5.99 per month.
In addition to the new service, Starz Entertainment also owns Vongo, a movie download service that offers unlimited downloads for $9.99 a month. Unlike Starz Play, however, Vongo doesn't include content from the company's cable channels.
While the deal with Verizon is the first time Starz has sold movie downloads as a wholesaler, it likely won't be the last. The company reportedly sees this sort of arrangement as the future of internet movie distribution.
Given the challenges that companies trying to turn a profit in the marketplace face it's anyone's guess whether this is true, but unlike other companies they appear to be establishing some kind of regular revenue stream. That's something their competition would do well to pay attention to.