Starz Follows HBO, Showtime Over-the-Top

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Following the lead of its better regarded rivals, Starz introduced a direct to consumer retail service, hoping that a cheap price will appeal to potential subscribers.

Starz costs $8.99 per month and is available via Apple and Google.

The service allows subscribers to download original series and movies and allows up to four users to watch simultaneously.

Related: Showrunner Starz in ‘Outlander' Podcast

HBO launched HBO Now last year and has about 800,000 subscribers. On Monday it announced that Bill Simmons will produce an aftershow for Game of Thrones. Season 6 of the popular series launched later this month.

CBS says it expects its Showtime over-the-top service to generate about $400 million in incremental revenue by 2020. The service will exclusively carry the latest installment in the Star Trek saga.

Related: The Battle of the Binge

Jon Lafayette
Jon Lafayette

Jon has been business editor of Broadcasting+Cable since 2010. He focuses on revenue-generating activities, including advertising and distribution, as well as executive intrigue and merger and acquisition activity. Just about any story is fair game, if a dollar sign can make its way into the article. Before B+C, Jon covered the industry for TVWeek, Cable World, Electronic Media, Advertising Age and The New York Post. A native New Yorker, Jon is hiding in plain sight in the suburbs of Chicago.