After a delay of nearly six weeks, StarzPlay has now launched on the Virgin Media platform. Virgin Media customers will require a StarzPlay add-on subscription (costing £4.99 per month) to access the service.
StarzPlay is envisioned as the UK home for the Starz brand, and holds exclusive UK rights to several of the premium cable networks original series including the Counterpart, Sweetbitter, Vida and the upcoming Now Apocalypse – all of which are made available on the same day as they air state-side.
The streaming service is also the exclusive UK home to Audience’s Stephen King adaptation Mr. Mercedes and Hulu’s Stephen King adaptation Castle Rock. Future Lionsgate owned Starz original series will also be available exclusively on StarzPlay. The launch on Virgin Media comes just after StarzPlay sealed a deal with ITV Studios Global Entertainment for the exclusive rights to Hulu’s period drama Harlots, after it was dropped by ITV in the wake of the closure of ITV Encore. The show’s first season launches on Friday January 18th, with season two following on Thursday February 14th.
Speaking at the time the deal to bring StarzPlay to Virgin Media was first announced, Chris Albrecht, President and CEO of Starz, said: “The partnership with Virgin Media is an exciting next step in the rollout of the StarzPlay platform, expanding the audience for our wide range of Starz Originals, TV series and movies exclusively available on StarzPlay to a whole new and expansive customer base.”
While David Bouchier, Chief Digital Entertainment Officer at Virgin Media, added: “The launch of StarzPlay on Virgin TV will give our customers access to even more brilliant box-sets, amazing movies and gripping TV series such as ‘The White Princess’ and ‘Mr. Mercedes.’ This exciting addition to our platform means Virgin TV customers will be able to enjoy new Starz content as it launches in the US.”
