After it recently refocused on English-speaking markets and refined its focus, Hirsch said Starz is now aiming to be an “add-on service” with 20 million to 25 million subscribers and financials that run counter to the current angst about streaming and pay-TV. The company is 65% digital, Hirsch said.
“We pivoted away from linear while being profitable is a really great story. We have not as much dependence on the linear business that you’re seeing in all these fights that are going on in the marketplace today. It sets us up to be a strategic platform for some of the assets that may fall out of some of our peer groups” as they look to license more content or otherwise pull back on spending.