Jeffrey Hirsch


Starz rolls out standalone Starzplay app in five countries

Lionsgate-backed cable channel Starz is rolling out a direct-to-consumer app in five countries, including the UK and France. The Starzplay app is also launching in Brazil, Germany and Mexico, and plans are in place to launch in 20 additional countries next year. To date, Starzplay has found distribution via platforms such as Apple TV and […]

Lionsgate promotes Jeffrey Hirsch to become Starz CEO

Lionsgate-backed US cabler Starz has handed its chief operating officer Jeffrey Hirsch a new long-term deal and named him CEO at the network. Hirsch had been in charge of Starz since March, after former boss Chris Albrecht revealed he was stepping down from the CEO role after almost a decade with the company. Starz, which […]

Starz plans to grow content by 40% this year

Starz has committed to plans to grow its on-demand content offering by 40% to hit nearly 7,700 titles by the end of 2017. The Lionsgate-owned US cable company has significantly invested in its app and OTT programming over the past 14 months, growing its content offering by more than 125% to 5,500 titles, it claimed. […]

Starz rolls out on DirecTV streaming service

Starz has inked a deal with AT&T’s DirecTV that will see its channels launch on the pay TV platform’s streaming service. Lionsgate-owned Starz has been aggressively expanding its TV Everywhere and streaming footprint in the US and the new agreement will see the Starz and Starz Encore services launch on DirecTV Now. The channels will […]

Starz COO extends stay

Starz has agreed a new long-term contract with its COO, Jeffrey Hirsch. The deal will see Hirsch remaining with Lionsgate-owned Starz until at least December 2020. He joined the US-based premium cable business in 2015 from Time Warner Cable, and has gone on to rebrand the Starz network, reposition the Starz Encore channels, and launch […]

Vimeo debuts TV Store with Lionsgate onboard

Vimeo has launched a new transactional TV store, with Lionsgate and Starz the first partners to come on board to provide content to the service. Vimeo TV Store launched at MIPCOM yesterday, and the service is designed to let premium studios sell their shows on a pay-per view basis to viewers in more than 150 countries around […]

Starz brings in AMC veteran as sales chief

Starz has recruited Joe Glennon as its executive VP of affiliate sales, with the distribution veteran joining after almost two decades at AMC. Glennon, who had the same job title at AMC, takes on the responsibilities previously handled by Michael Thornton who has now left premium cabler Starz but is still consulting for the company. […]

Albrecht extends Starz stay

Chris Albrecht has signed a contract to remain CEO of US premium cable channel Starz until 2020, simultaneously adding the title of company president. The new deal is effective as of July 1, with Albrecht (pictured) replacing the long-serving Glenn Curtis as president. The news closely follows the appointment of global marketing president Jeffrey Hirsch […]

Starz ups Hirsch and Weil

Starz has appointed Jeffrey Hirsch COO, handing him some of the responsibilities that sat with Glenn Curtis, who is retiring after a 20-year career at the premium cable net. Hirsch joined Starz last year from Time Warner Cable, where he was has been upped from president, global marketing and product development. At TWC he was […]

Starz repositions channels

Starz has repositioned its channels line-up and brought all of its offering under the Starz brand. The US cable net operator has been exploring sale and M&A options and has now rejigged its channels line-up with all services now carrying the Starz ‘master brand’. The Encore channels are now rebadged under a Starz Encore umbrella. […]