DIRECTV and Starz Entertainment Renew Distribution Agreement, Add Authenticated Rights for Future Online Access to Movies and Originals on DIRECTV Everywhere

EL SEGUNDO, Calif. and ENGLEWOOD, Colo., April 16, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Starz Entertainment, LLC, and DIRECTV, announced today that the companies have entered into a multi-platform distribution agreement extension. The new deal provides for DIRECTV to continue to offer the Starz Entertainment premium channels, HD, and on-demand services, and grants DIRECTV the rights to offer STARZ ONLINE and ENCORE ONLINE services on its DIRECTV Everywhere service, which is currently in beta, for its authenticated STARZ Super Pack subscribers. In addition, the agreement enables DIRECTV to launch MOVIEPLEX, INDIEPLEX, and RETROPLEX, and the related MOVIEPLEX ON DEMAND and MOVIEPLEX ONLINE service on DIRECTV Everywhere.

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DIRECTV offers 15 STARZ and ENCORE channels, with eight in high definition for its STARZ Super Pack subscribers, in addition to the STARZ ON DEMAND and ENCORE ON DEMAND services.  DIRECTV's STARZ ON DEMAND and ENCORE ON DEMAND services - and STARZ ONLINE and ENCORE ONLINE on DIRECTV Everywhere - offer about 600 top movies, originals, and TV programming per month.  The MOVIEPLEX on-demand and online services will add about an additional 200 titles once launched.

Financial terms and other deal specifics were not disclosed.

"We are pleased that the STARZ and ENCORE premium channels and service are a part of our DIRECTV Everywhere platform," said Derek Chang, executive vice president, Content Strategy and Development, DIRECTV. "Providing our STARZ Super Pack subscribers with online access to their subscription content from Starz through DIRECTV Everywhere later this year will bring even more value to our customers."

"DIRECTV and Starz have a long, symbiotic relationship going back to the early 1990s, and I am very pleased that we are able to extend and expand our existing business relationship,"  said Ed Huguez, president of affiliate distribution for Starz Entertainment.  "With great movies, 'Spartacus,' and 'Magic City,' the value proposition for subscribing to our multi-platform premium programming has never been better."

About Starz Entertainment

Starz Entertainment, LLC, is a premium movie and original programming entertainment service provider operating in the United States. The company offers 17 premium channels including the flagship STARZ® and ENCORE® brands with approximately 19.6 million and 33.2 million subscribers respectively.  Starz Entertainment airs in total more than 1,000 movies and original series every month across its pay TV channels. Starz Entertainment is recognized as a pay TV leader in providing HD, On Demand, HD On Demand and online advanced services for its STARZ, ENCORE and MOVIEPLEX brands.  Starz Entertainment (www.starz.com) is an operating unit of Starz, LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Liberty Media Corporation (NASDAQ: LMCA).

About DIRECTV

DIRECTV (NASDAQ: DTV) is one of the world's leading providers of digital television entertainment services delivering a premium video experience through state-of-the-art technology, unmatched programming and industry leading customer service to 32 million customers in the U.S. and Latin America. In the U.S., DIRECTV offers its 19.9 million customers access to more than 170 HD channels and Dolby-Digital® 5.1 theater-quality sound, access to exclusive sports programming such as NFL SUNDAY TICKET™, Emmy- award winning technology and higher customer satisfaction than the leading cable companies for 11 years running. DIRECTV Latin America, through its subsidiaries and affiliated companies in Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, Venezuela, Colombia, and other Latin American countries, leads the pay-TV category in technology, programming and service, delivering an unrivaled digital television experience to 12 million customers. DIRECTV sports and entertainment properties include three Regional Sports Networks (Northwest, Rocky Mountain and Pittsburgh) as well as a 60 percent interest in Game Show Network. For the most up-to-date information on DIRECTV, please visit www.directv.com. 

SOURCE Starz Entertainment, LLC; DIRECTV