Starz To Delay Netflix's Access To New Originals For 90 Days

Subs on Comcast, Dish and AT&T to continue to have online access to new episodes

By Todd Spangler, Multichannel News -- Broadcasting & Cable, 3/24/2011 6:27:38 PM

Starz Entertainment will implement a new policy under which episodes of its original series will not be available on Netflix until 90 days after the debut on the Starz network, starting with the April 1 premiere of period drama Camelot, with first-run movies later following suit.

However, subscribers with Comcast, Dish Network and AT&T -- which have agreements with Starz to offer "TV Everywhere" access authenticated services -- will still have full access to all current network programming through Starz Online.

On Netflix, past seasons of Starz series, including Spartacus, and previously aired movies will continue to be available for streaming, according to a spokeswoman for the programmer.

Netflix vice president of corporate communications Steve Swasey said the change was "straightforward," noting that the company's subscribers place more value on breadth of content selection than immediacy. He said the 90-day window for Starz content was still shorter than some TV licensing deals.

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