Starz Inks Movie Library Deal With Fox

Starz has picked up a package of Twentieth Century Fox movies titles as part of a multi-year agreement between the two companies, the pay TV service announced Tuesday.

The deal will provide content that will air on the Starz and Encore premium channels, as well as associated HD, on-demand and authenticated online offerings, according to network officials. Titles in the library package include Big Momma’s House;Dude, Where’s My Car?;Planet of the Apes(2001);Dodgeball;Cheaper by the Dozen; How Stella Got Her Groove Back;The X-Files;Me, Myself, and Irene;Predator; Fight Club; Behind Enemy Lines; Ever After; and Moulin Rouge.

While the deal does not include access to recently released Fox movies – Fox has a separate, first-run movie output deal with HBO – Starz said about 40% of the feature films in the package are being made available to the pay service for the first time.

“This agreement with Fox will fortify our pipeline of popular theatrical library content through the end of the decade and is a great complement to our exclusive originals, first-run movies, and other popular movie fare,“ said Michael Thornton, executive vice president of acquisitions, business & legal affairs in a statement. “Encompassing a deep collection of hundreds of films including such highlights as movies from the Ice Age, X-Men, and Home Alone franchises, as well as There’s Something About Mary and Alien, these timeless hits will be a great addition for our loyal subscribers.”

R. Thomas Umstead

R. Thomas Umstead serves as senior content producer, programming for Multichannel News, Broadcasting + Cable and Next TV. During his more than 30-year career as a print and online journalist, Umstead has written articles on a variety of subjects ranging from TV technology, marketing and sports production to content distribution and development. He has provided expert commentary on television issues and trends for such TV, print, radio and streaming outlets as Fox News, CNBC, the Today show, USA Today, The New York Times and National Public Radio. Umstead has also filmed, produced and edited more than 100 original video interviews, profiles and news reports featuring key cable television executives as well as entertainers and celebrity personalities.