Starz COO agrees new contract following Lionsgate deal

Jeffrey Hirsch

Starz has agreed a new long-term contract with its COO, Jeffrey Hirsch.

The deal will see Hirsch remaining with Lionsgate-owned Starz until at least December 2020.

He joined the US-based premium cable business in 2015 from Time Warner Cable, and has gone on to rebrand the Starz network, reposition the Starz Encore channels, and launch streaming services and the Starz app, which has close to one million subscribers.

“In a short time at Starz, he re-energised growth at the company by rebranding the networks and launching one of the best streaming apps in the TV business, firmly securing the network’s position as the second most-subscribed to premium TV network in the US,” said Starz CEO Chris Albrecht.

Hirsch’s post sees him oversee affiliate sales, marketing, programming operations, network scheduling, research, distribution, and technology and product development.

The news comes soon after Lionsgate completed the US$4.4 billion takeover of Starz last month, bringing together two companies that cable mogul John Malone backs strategically.

Starz CEO Albrecht extended his contract in June last year, soon after Hirsch was promoted from president of global marketing and product development to take some of the responsibilities of retiring company president Glenn Curtis.