starz.com
There comes a time in every man's life when he must make a seemingly impossible choice. This particular decision will ripple outwards, informing his future, filling hours of his leisure time, making him laugh and sometimes cry. This decision will change the way he understands himself and the world he lives in.
I am discussing the decision of which streaming service to commit to. As you did not guess, this decision is a difficult one. There are many good streaming services out there, each with its own strengths and weaknesses. Before making my decision, I have considered all of these factors.
There are many more important things to worry about in life. But, because the average American adult watches about 5 hours of TV-oriented media per day, it is clear that the streaming service you end up choosing will have a big impact on your life. Because each service has its own unique collection of shows and movies, by choosing a particular provider, you are really choosing the stories and characters that are hosted on that network. And in today's golden age of television, making that choice can be quite difficult.
After exploring the strengths and weaknesses of STARZ?s premium streaming platform, I have come to a conclusion about its good, bad, and in-between qualities. There are many platforms that offer similar services for a lower cost, so is STARZ really worth the expense? After all is said and done, I believe that it is.
How it Started
This led to HBO, along with other premium networks such as STARZ, being able to charge an increased fee for their content.
Since STARZ began providing digital cable service in the early 2000s, it has seen its viewer base and viewership increase. The platform became a more profitable venture starting in 2007 when it started charging providers for its content and began making a modest profit. In the early days of digital cable, this type of programming was not readily available. However, as the industry grew and more providers offered this service, premiums were placed on these premium channels such as STARZ.
STARZ, noticing the trend in providers opening up more channels and their desire for new programming, decided to make a move. They were an attractive choice because they had plenty of programming to offer.
In the mid-2010s, the network was acquired by Lionsgate, a massive American entertainment company. Around the same time, STARZ launched a new app to go along with its subscription streaming service. Since then, it has maintained its position as a direct competitor to networks like HBO and Showtime.
How it Works
Customers have a choice between subscribing directly through STARZ or obtaining a subscription through [Amazon?s Prime Video](link to our Prime Video review). Both portals offer the same content, which includes STARZ?s current and back catalog of programming, as well as TV series and movies currently airing on Encore. Whether you subscribe through Prime Video or directly with STARZ, the membership will cost you $8.99/month. This is cheaper than both Showtime ($10.99/month) and HBO ($14.99/month), depending on the time of year. Sometimes STARZ offers short-term free trials so you can sample the service before ponying up the first month?s payment.
Once you have finalized your agreement, you will be granted access to STARZ's library. To access it, you have a few options. You can watch it on a desktop or mobile via STARZ's web client, or you can download the app and watch it on supported streaming devices like Roku or Chromecast. It is also worth mentioning that some people out there may already have access to STARZ through their cable bundle. If you are one of these people, you should know that you can also use the app or the web client whenever you want.
What?s Included
Now we're getting down to business. The most important factor in this equation is what STARZ hosts. You want to know, in simple terms, what they've got and whether it's enough to lure you in. So let's take a look.
STARZ's business model is to focus on high-quality content. Some of the movies on the platform are exclusive to the network, so it is something to consider. STARZ also has a pretty impressive array of blockbusters - particularly classics - at any given time. For example, they even compete with Netflix and Hulu in this regard. Here you can browse which movies are currently available, but to give you an idea:
- Casino
- The Big Lebowski
- Call Me by Your Name
- Back to the Future
- My Cousin Vinny
- Fargo
- Reservoir Dogs
- The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
- The Truman Show
The list of content that these cinemas focus on is extensive, ranging from 1990s nostalgia-era films to contemporary films. However, they may not be as well-suited for producing content in the current era.
STARZ is lacking in big-name series when compared to HBO. However, their series are not bad; on the contrary, many of them are lesser-known gems. I feel this description aptly applies to shows like American Gods, an adaptation of the namesake novel by Neil Gaiman, as well as Ash vs. Evil Dead, which has a cult-like following that supports it.
Other popular series include the Counterpart, Black Sails, and Spartacus collections. Here you can browse the whole collection.
Design of the Website
When you sign in to STARZ through the web client, you'll first see a large banner displaying featured content. This banner takes up much of the screen, and besides being a bit annoying, it's impractical, as you have to click one-by-one through each title to browse through the featured catalog. So what I do, and what I imagine most people do, is I skip right past that boisterous banner. Beneath it, you'll find a grid-oriented display that you can toggle through more easily. Each row is categorized differently, with the first being sorted by what's popular, and the next original series only on STARZ?, etc. Pretty standard stuff.
If you are looking for something specific, the search bar is easily accessible at the top of the page. You can also go directly to the "Series" or "Movies" portal by clicking a direct link on the top of the landing page.
Mobile Experience
If you plan on using your phone to stream a lot of your content, STARZ's mobile app is definitely one to consider. Plenty of users have found it to be one of the most simple and functional apps available, with standard features like Chromecast connectivity, downloadable content, and live-streaming support. The UI is sleek and easy to use, making navigation a breeze.
One potentially not-so-positive thing to note about the app that many users have complained about is that it may be difficult to activate or cancel your subscription through the mobile client. For whatever reason, this is a common issue. You could imagine how angry some people are at having to pay for an extra month of a service they tried in vain to cancel. While this issue is relatively uncommon, it still exists, so be warned.
Prime Video?s Strengths
Now that we have a general idea of what STARZ is all about, let us circle back and comment on its strong points. First and foremost, it is cheap. It is nearly half the price of HBO, and it is 20% cheaper than Showtime. Additionally, you can pay on a month-to-month basis, cancel your subscription, and resubscribe whenever you want. This is very convenient.
The content offered by STARZ includes a large number of classic movies from the 1970s through the 1990s. Original series produced by STARZ are not always well-known, but this is not necessarily a bad thing. I find shows like Ash vs. Evil Dead and American Gods to be very enjoyable, and some of the other series are also good. The STARZ-exclusive collection is especially impressive.
Prime Video?s Weaknesses
Even though STARZ has its flaws, it still offers great programming. One downside is that the channel's selection of contemporary movies is not great. However, fans of older movies will appreciate the programming available on STARZ. Additionally, there are few big-name series on the network, but that may be a good thing for some people depending on their preferences.
Many users have a gripe with how hard it is to manage a subscription on the mobile client, though this could (and should) be patched up quickly. I imagine, so we'll see how that plays out.
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