Lionsgate-owned streaming service Starzplay has been formally rebranded to Lionsgate Plus (stylized as Lionsgate+) in 35 world territories.
The platform will preserve its present Starz title within the US and Canada – and stay as Starzplay Arabia and Lionsgate Play in Arabic nations and Southeast Asia, respectively – although these variations will likewise profit from new design parts and an up-to-date graphics package deal.
Regardless of rumours suggesting that Lionsgate is seeking to unload stakes in Starz, the corporate says the transfer to rebrand Starzplay internationally is available in a bid to assist differentiate the service in a crowded streaming market.
“Working below Lionsgate Plus internationally brings a definite and differentiated id in a more and more crowded worldwide market, and builds on the model fairness within the Lionsgate title that our in-depth analysis has confirmed is robust all over the world,” Jeffrey Hirsch, president and CEO of Starz, stated in an announcement.
“Even with the separation of Starz and the Lionsgate studio enterprise, the Lionsgate model will proceed to be precious to the continuing success of our worldwide platform.”
Following the rebrand, Lionsgate Plus joins several different main streaming companies now bearing the ‘Plus’ affix: Disney Plus, Apple TV Plus and Paramount Plus to call the three largest.
Lionsgate believes its mission to carry “a definite and differentiated id” to its streaming service is best served by the Lionsgate Plus title, versus Starzplay, though some customers have expressed confusion in direction of the transfer:
Granted, Starzplay wasn’t an important title to start with – however, whereas Lionsgate Plus is an extra uniform title (by advantage of its competitors), it’s not precisely “distinct and differentiated” in 2022.
The rebrand additionally dangers leaving these not in-the-know considering that Lionsgate Plus is a wholly separate entity to Starz – regardless of the 2 platforms sharing the identical content material slate (which incorporates exhibits like Outlander, Energy and Gaslit).
Lionsgate isn’t the one studio to fall into the ‘Plus’ honeytrap, thoughts. Epix, the MGM-owned premium cable community, was not too long ago rebranded to MGM Plus (stylized as MGM+) following Amazon’s high-profile acquisition of the James Bond manufacturing firm in 2021.
For extra of the most recent streaming-related information, take a look at our report on Netflix’s daring new plan to make you interact with its video games and our deep dive into the manufacturing troubles affecting Marvel’s upcoming Blade film.
