Starz Launches Subscription Streaming, With Bonus ‘Outlander’ S2 Premiere

TV viewers and Black Sails fans, you finally have something in common. Starz will join the ranks of TV channels offering their services to stream independent of any cable package, even tossing in the Outlander Season 2 premiere as an incentive.

The premium cable outlet has officially revealed an $8.99 a month streaming service, crazily enough called “Starz,” already available both online and by Apple and Android app. Existing Starz customers, including those of Starz Encore and Movieplex can also use the app to access their shows.

Says Starz of the new offering:

Our programing will now be more widely available to the 20 million broadband only homes of cord nevers, cord cutters and cord shavers, including Millennials and other underserved consumers who need other viable subscription service options.

Better news even for Outlander fans, as the Season 2 premiere will be available to stream on April 7, two days before the official April 9 premiere. No word yet if similar treatment might be offered to future seasons of shows like Black Sails, Blunt Talk, American Gods, Ash Vs. Evil Dead, Power or upcoming adaptation The Girlfriend Experience.

Cord-cutting seems increasingly to be the norm, particularly when subscriptions are offered in-house (Starz originally leased some of its programming to Amazon Prime), so who next might take the plunge?