Starz Entertainment

To deliver bold content for women and diverse audiences by being their indispensable global premium streaming service.

Starz Entertainment SWOT Analysis

Updated: October 2, 2025 • 2025-Q4 Analysis

How to Use This Analysis

This analysis for Starz Entertainment was created using Alignment.io™ methodology - a proven strategic planning system trusted in over 75,000 strategic planning projects. We've designed it as a helpful companion for your team's strategic process, leveraging leading AI models to analyze publicly available data.

While this represents what AI sees from public data, you know your company's true reality. That's why we recommend using Alignment.io and The System of Alignment™ to conduct your strategic planning—using these AI-generated insights as inspiration and reference points to blend with your team's invaluable knowledge.

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The Starz SWOT analysis reveals a classic 'niche champion' facing giants. Its core strength lies in its powerful, demographically-focused franchises like Power, which create a loyal, monetizable fanbase. However, this strength is also a weakness, fostering a dangerous reliance on a narrow slate of IP. The key challenge is scale; Starz is outspent and outsized by competitors. To thrive, it must execute a dual strategy: globally expand its proven franchises to drive subscriber growth while urgently cultivating the *next* generation of iconic IP to diversify its portfolio. Strategic partnerships and bundling are not just opportunities but survival necessities in a consolidating market. The path forward requires disciplined investment in its niche, international expansion, and a relentless hunt for the next hit.

Netflix Warner Bros. Discovery (Max) Disney (Hulu) Paramount Global (Paramount+) Comcast (Peacock)

No past cycles

Mission & Vision SWOT Analysis OKR Plan Retrospective AI Strategy Data Acquisition

To deliver bold content for women and diverse audiences by being their indispensable global premium streaming service.

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Strengths

FRANCHISES: Power & Outlander drive ~40% of viewership and acquisition
DEMOGRAPHICS: #1 network for Black households, strong female viewership
BUNDLES: Strong distribution via cable and digital (Amazon Channels)
BRAND: Clear identity for bold, adult drama vs. generic competitors
LIONSGATE: Content pipeline synergy with parent company's TV studio

Weaknesses

SCALE: Dwarfed by competitors' content budgets and subscriber bases
CHURN: Higher than industry leaders due to narrow content pipeline
RELIANCE: Overly dependent on the success of a few key franchises
ARPU: Lower average revenue per user compared to ad-free giants
INTERNATIONAL: Brand recognition lags US, making expansion costly

Opportunities

EXPANSION: Major int'l growth potential in LATAM, Europe, and Asia
BUNDLING: Opportunity to be the 'plus one' in consumer streaming packs
IP: Leverage existing franchises into new spin-offs and formats
LICENSING: Monetize library content in second windows to other players
PRICING: Potential to introduce tiered pricing or ad-supported options

Threats

COMPETITION: Intense pressure from Netflix, Max, Disney+ content spend
CONSOLIDATION: Larger players bundling services, squeezing out smaller rivals
COSTS: Skyrocketing content production and talent costs industry-wide
CARRIAGE: Risk of being dropped by MVPDs seeking to lower fees
PIRACY: Illegal distribution of hit shows erodes subscriber growth

Key Priorities

FRANCHISE: Double down on Power/Outlander universes to retain core base
GLOBAL: Aggressively accelerate international subscriber acquisition
DIVERSIFY: Develop the next two major franchise hits to reduce reliance
BUNDLES: Solidify and expand strategic distribution partnerships

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Starz Entertainment OKR

Updated: October 2, 2025 • 2025-Q4 Analysis

The Starz OKR plan is a focused and potent blueprint for thriving as a niche player in a war of giants. It wisely avoids direct confrontation, instead concentrating firepower on deepening its existing moat. The objectives to 'OWN OUR NICHE' and 'GO GLOBAL' are perfectly aligned with the SWOT's core findings. The Key Results are tangible and ambitious, directly addressing the need to expand franchises while cultivating new hits. This plan rightly identifies that for Starz, victory isn't about being the biggest, but about being the most indispensable service for its chosen audience. Executing this OKR set will build a more resilient, profitable, and globally recognized brand.

Netflix Warner Bros. Discovery (Max) Disney (Hulu) Paramount Global (Paramount+) Comcast (Peacock)

No past cycles

Mission & Vision SWOT Analysis OKR Plan Retrospective AI Strategy Data Acquisition

To deliver bold content for women and diverse audiences by being their indispensable global premium streaming service.

OWN OUR NICHE

Solidify our position as the #1 destination for our core demo.

FRANCHISE: Launch the next 'Power' spin-off, breaking premiere viewership records set by 'Force' by 15%.
CONTENT: Greenlight three new series with diverse female leads that achieve a 90% Certified Fresh score.
ENGAGEMENT: Increase average monthly viewing hours per subscriber for our top 10 shows by 20%.
BRAND: Become the #1 ranked network for 'bold storytelling' in semi-annual brand tracker surveys.

GO GLOBAL

Become an essential service for our audience worldwide.

SUBSCRIBERS: Grow our international subscriber base by 40%, with LATAM and Western Europe exceeding targets.
LAUNCH: Successfully launch the Starz brand direct-to-consumer in three new major European markets.
LOCALIZE: Co-produce our first non-English original series for a key international territory.
AWARENESS: Achieve 25% unaided brand awareness in our top 5 international markets by end of year.

DIVERSIFY HITS

Cultivate the next generation of iconic Starz franchises.

DEVELOPMENT: Move two new, non-franchise pilots into full series production with major talent attached.
BUZZ: Secure a 20% higher volume of social media conversation for a new series premiere vs. last year's slate.
RETENTION: Ensure our top new series retains at least 60% of its premiere audience by its season finale.
PIPELINE: Fill our development pipeline so that 50% of projects are from new, underrepresented creators.

EXPAND REACH

Maximize availability and value through smart partnerships.

BUNDLES: Secure two new bundling deals with major wireless carriers or complementary streaming services.
CHANNELS: Grow subscriber acquisition via Amazon Prime Video Channels and The Roku Channel by 30%.
PROMOTIONS: Launch three major acquisition campaigns with partners, lowering blended CAC by 10%.
DATA: Establish first-party data sharing agreements with two of our top five distribution partners.

METRICS

Global Streaming Subscribers: Grow to 30M
Content Contribution Margin: Achieve 20%
Subscriber Churn Rate: Reduce to <5% monthly

VALUES

Audience First
Bold Storytelling
Inclusive Culture
Creative Excellence

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Starz Entertainment Retrospective

AI-Powered Insights

Claude

Gemini

GPT

Lionsgate (LGF.A) Q4 2024 Earnings Report and Investor Call Transcript
Starz.com official website and press release archive
Variety and Hollywood Reporter articles on streaming market share and content
Company executive bios from official website and LinkedIn profiles
Industry reports on SVOD churn rates and consumer spending

Netflix Warner Bros. Discovery (Max) Disney (Hulu) Paramount Global (Paramount+) Comcast (Peacock)

No past cycles

Mission & Vision SWOT Analysis OKR Plan Retrospective AI Strategy Data Acquisition

To deliver bold content for women and diverse audiences by being their indispensable global premium streaming service.

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What Went Well

SUBSCRIBERS: Global subscriber base grew, driven by international markets
CONTENT: 'Power Book IV: Force' premiere broke viewership records on the app
PARTNERSHIPS: Renewed key carriage deal with a major MVPD, ensuring reach
MARGINS: Segment profit margin held steady despite higher content costs
RETENTION: Cohort data shows strong retention around franchise season premieres

Not So Well

DOMESTIC: US linear subscriber count continued its secular decline
CHURN: Spike in churn observed in the month after a franchise season finale
ARPU: Overall ARPU slightly declined due to int'l mix and promotional offers
COMPETITION: Lost a key library content deal to a larger streaming rival
NEW HITS: A new, non-franchise series underperformed viewership expectations

Learnings

FRANCHISES: Franchise health is the single most important driver of KPIs
GLOBAL: International is the primary growth engine for the foreseeable future
CONTENT: The gap between franchise and non-franchise viewership is widening
BUNDLES: DTC growth is slowing; partner channels are key for acquisition
PROGRAMMING: Scheduling new content between franchise finales is critical

Action Items

MARKETING: Reallocate marketing spend to focus on international acquisition
PRODUCT: Develop in-app features to better surface non-franchise content
CONTENT: Accelerate development of two new franchise spin-off concepts
FINANCE: Model impact of a price increase in mature domestic market
STRATEGY: Explore new bundling partnership opportunities in key territories

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Organization	SWOT Analysis	OKR Plan	Top 6	Retrospective

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Starz Entertainment Market

AI-Powered Insights

Claude

Gemini

GPT

Lionsgate (LGF.A) Q4 2024 Earnings Report and Investor Call Transcript
Starz.com official website and press release archive
Variety and Hollywood Reporter articles on streaming market share and content
Company executive bios from official website and LinkedIn profiles
Industry reports on SVOD churn rates and consumer spending

Founded: 1994
Market Share: ~2-3% of US SVOD market
Customer Base: Core focus on women and diverse, adult audiences
Category:
Streaming Service
SIC Code: 4841 Cable and Other Pay Television Services
NAICS Code: 516210 Media Streaming Distribution Services, Social Networks, and Other Media Networks and Content Providers
Location: Santa Monica, California
Zip Code: 90404
Congressional District: CA-36 SANTA MONICA
Employees: 600

Competitors

Netflix View Analysis

Warner Bros. Discovery (Max) Request Analysis

Disney (Hulu) Request Analysis

Paramount Global (Paramount+) Request Analysis

Comcast (Peacock) Request Analysis

Products & Services

No products or services data available

Distribution Channels

Starz Entertainment Business Model Analysis

AI-Powered Insights

Claude

Gemini

GPT

Lionsgate (LGF.A) Q4 2024 Earnings Report and Investor Call Transcript
Starz.com official website and press release archive
Variety and Hollywood Reporter articles on streaming market share and content
Company executive bios from official website and LinkedIn profiles
Industry reports on SVOD churn rates and consumer spending

Problem

Underserved audiences (women, diverse)
Desire for bold, premium adult drama
Frustration with generic content

Solution

Curated slate of original series
Exclusive access to popular franchises
Ad-free, focused viewing experience

Key Metrics

Global subscriber growth & churn rate
Average Revenue Per User (ARPU)
Content engagement hours per sub

Unique

Laser-focus on specific demographics
Home of the 'Power' & 'Outlander' universes
Bold, unapologetic brand voice

Advantage

Deeply loyal franchise fanbases
Content pipeline from Lionsgate TV
Established distribution partnerships

Channels

Direct-to-consumer app (DTC)
MVPDs (Comcast) & vMVPDs (Hulu)
Digital storefronts (Amazon, Roku)

Customer Segments

Adult women (25-54)
Black and multicultural households
Fans of premium, character-driven drama

Costs

Original content production & acquisition
Marketing and subscriber acquisition
Technology and streaming infrastructure

Starz Entertainment Product Market Fit Analysis

Updated: October 2, 2025

Starz is the premier destination for bold, original programming. It provides exclusive access to iconic franchises and curated stories that champion diverse perspectives, offering a premium, ad-free experience for audiences who demand character-driven entertainment that reflects their world. It's not just another streaming service; it's a home for must-watch television.

Exclusive access to iconic, must-watch original series you can't get anywhere else.

A curated selection of bold stories that reflect and empower our diverse audiences.

A premium, ad-free experience focused on quality character-driven entertainment.

Before State

Fragmented viewing, searching for content
Mainstream stories ignoring their lives
Feeling unseen by major media platforms

After State

Curated home for bold, premium dramas
Seeing their perspectives reflected on screen
Deeply engaged with iconic characters

Negative Impacts

Wasted time scrolling endless content libraries
Lack of relatable characters and stories
Frustration with generic entertainment options

Positive Outcomes

Cultural conversations sparked by new shows
Strong emotional connection to the brand
Becoming a loyal fan of Starz franchises

Key Metrics

Global Subscriber Count

~25M

Domestic Subscriber Count

~15M

Average Revenue Per User (ARPU)

~$6.00

Subscriber Churn Rate

~5-6% monthly (est.)

Net Promoter Score (NPS)

30-35 (est.)

Requirements

Consistent slate of high-quality originals
Easy access across all devices and platforms
Marketing that speaks to the core audience

Why Starz Entertainment

Greenlight shows that fit the brand promise
Secure broad distribution and partnerships
Invest in franchise-building marketing

Starz Entertainment Competitive Advantage

Laser-focus on a valuable, loyal niche
Existing IP creates a content moat
Synergy with Lionsgate's studio operations

Proof Points

Power universe is a top-rated cable franchise
Outlander has a massive, global fanbase
High viewership among Black households

Starz Entertainment Market Positioning

AI-Powered Insights

Claude

Gemini

GPT

Lionsgate (LGF.A) Q4 2024 Earnings Report and Investor Call Transcript
Starz.com official website and press release archive
Variety and Hollywood Reporter articles on streaming market share and content
Company executive bios from official website and LinkedIn profiles
Industry reports on SVOD churn rates and consumer spending

Strategic pillars derived from our vision-focused SWOT analysis

Grow iconic IP like Power & Outlander

Drive international subscriber growth via STARZPLAY

Super-serve women and diverse audiences

Maximize reach via MVPD & vMVPD deals

What You Do

Premium streaming service with bold, original series and hit movies.

Target Market

Adult women and underrepresented audiences seeking character-driven drama.

Differentiation

Focused content slate for specific, underserved demographics
Deep library of ownable, iconic IP and franchises

Revenue Streams

Subscription fees (DTC and through partners)
Affiliate fees from cable and satellite providers

Starz Entertainment Operations and Technology

AI-Powered Insights

Claude

Gemini

GPT

Lionsgate (LGF.A) Q4 2024 Earnings Report and Investor Call Transcript
Starz.com official website and press release archive
Variety and Hollywood Reporter articles on streaming market share and content
Company executive bios from official website and LinkedIn profiles
Industry reports on SVOD churn rates and consumer spending

Company Operations

Organizational Structure: Division within Lionsgate's Media Networks segment
Supply Chain: Content pipeline from Lionsgate Television and third-party studios
Tech Patents: Primarily relies on third-party streaming tech infrastructure
Website: https://www.starz.com

Top Clients

Board Members

Operates under the Lionsgate Board of Directors

Starz Entertainment Competitive Forces

Threat of New Entry

MODERATE: High content and marketing costs are a barrier, but major tech companies (Apple) have proven they can enter and scale quickly.

Supplier Power

HIGH: A-list talent, showrunners, and production studios command premium fees due to intense demand for hit content across the industry.

Buyer Power

HIGH: Consumers have low switching costs and a vast array of streaming choices, making them highly price-sensitive and churn-prone.

Threat of Substitution

HIGH: Substitutes include other streaming services, linear TV, video games, and social media (e.g., TikTok), all competing for leisure time.

Competitive Rivalry

EXTREMELY HIGH: Intense rivalry from deep-pocketed global streamers (Netflix, Disney) and established premium networks (HBO/Max).

Analysis of AI Strategy

Updated: October 2, 2025 • 2025-Q4 Analysis

The Starz AI SWOT analysis highlights a critical path for the company: using AI not to outspend giants, but to outsmart them. Starz's key advantage is its focused, rich dataset on a specific demographic. It cannot build foundational models, but it can apply specialized AI with surgical precision. The strategy must be to leverage AI to deepen its existing moat—enhancing content discovery to reduce churn and creating hyper-efficient marketing to attract its core audience. Generative AI presents a major efficiency opportunity in creative operations. The greatest threat isn't that Starz fails to build AI, but that its larger competitors use their vast AI resources to better serve Starz's own niche audience. For Starz, AI must be a tool of focus, not scale.

Netflix Warner Bros. Discovery (Max) Disney (Hulu) Paramount Global (Paramount+) Comcast (Peacock)

No past cycles

Mission & Vision SWOT Analysis OKR Plan Retrospective AI Strategy Data Acquisition

To deliver bold content for women and diverse audiences by being their indispensable global premium streaming service.

Strengths

DATA: Rich first-party viewership data on a specific, loyal demographic
FOCUS: Audience niche allows for highly targeted AI model training
CONTENT: Existing library can be analyzed for success patterns/tropes
AGILITY: Smaller scale may allow for faster adoption of new AI tools

Weaknesses

TALENT: Inability to compete with FAANG for top-tier AI engineering talent
BUDGET: Limited R&D budget for foundational AI model development
INFRASTRUCTURE: Lacks the massive cloud compute resources of rivals
SCALE: Smaller dataset for training compared to Netflix or YouTube

Opportunities

PERSONALIZATION: AI-driven recommendations to reduce churn and lift engagement
MARKETING: Predictive modeling to identify and target high-value subscribers
DEVELOPMENT: AI analysis of scripts to identify potential hits for demos
EFFICIENCY: Using GenAI to accelerate marketing copy and promo creation

Threats

COMPETITION: Rivals use superior AI to create stickier user experiences
DISCOVERY: Competitors' AI can better predict and acquire the next hit
COSTS: Rising expense of licensing AI tools and accessing compute power
HOMOGENIZATION: Over-reliance on AI could stifle bold, creative risks

Key Priorities

ENGAGEMENT: Deploy AI to hyper-personalize the user content journey
ACQUISITION: Leverage AI for smarter, more efficient marketing spend
EFFICIENCY: Adopt GenAI tools to streamline creative and marketing ops
INSIGHTS: Use AI to analyze content data for future greenlight decisions

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Starz Entertainment Financial Performance

AI-Powered Insights

Claude

Gemini

GPT

Lionsgate (LGF.A) Q4 2024 Earnings Report and Investor Call Transcript
Starz.com official website and press release archive
Variety and Hollywood Reporter articles on streaming market share and content
Company executive bios from official website and LinkedIn profiles
Industry reports on SVOD churn rates and consumer spending

Profit: Segment Profit TTM: ~$150M

Market Cap: Lionsgate Market Cap: ~$2.0 Billion

Stock Performance

Annual Report: Lionsgate Investor Relations website

Debt: Lionsgate Net Debt: ~$2.5 Billion

ROI Impact: Content slate ROI is key to segment profitability and subscriber growth

SWOT Index

Composite strategic assessment with 10-year outlook

/ 100

Niche Competitor

ICM Index

STRATEGIC ADVISOR ASSESSMENT

Starz has a clear, category-level ambition but faces severe headwinds, reflected in its modest Achievability. The SWOT is balanced, with strong franchise upside offset by intense competitive threats. The OKRs are well-crafted for its niche. Its growth is capped by its niche strategy and the hyper-competitive streaming landscape, leading to a modest growth multiplier. Success hinges entirely on execution within its demographic.

SWOT Factors

Upside: 70.0 Risk: 80.0

OKR Impact

AI Leverage

Top 3 Strategic Levers

Accelerate international subscriber growth

Develop a third major global franchise hit

Deepen bundling and distribution partnerships

AI Disclosure

This report was created using the Alignment Method—our proprietary process for guiding AI to reveal how it interprets your business and industry. These insights are for informational purposes only and do not constitute financial, legal, tax, or investment advice.

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