Verizon Fios restores Starz channels after new carriage deal

Starz has signed a new distribution agreement with Verizon that restores the full STARZ channel lineup, STARZ On Demand and the STARZ app to Verizon Fios subscribers in the US, the premium network announced on October 20, 2026.

The deal ends a carriage gap for Fios customers, who now regain access to the STARZ premium slate. For pay-TV practitioners, the agreement is a conventional carriage renewal in a market where such disputes have become more frequent as operators trim programming costs and streaming services pull subscribers away from traditional bundles.

"We are pleased to have reached a mutually beneficial agreement that brings STARZ's premium programming to Verizon Fios customers," said Alison Hoffman, President, STARZ Networks.

Hoffman added that the company remains committed to its programming strategy: "We remain committed to delivering bold storytelling for women and underrepresented audiences and to serving viewers who value our distinctive programming."

What returns to Fios subscribers?

The restored package covers three distribution layers:

• All STARZ linear channels
• STARZ On Demand
• The STARZ app, which authenticated Fios customers can use for streaming access

That structure matters for operators. It gives Fios households both the traditional linear viewing path and the app-based option, matching how premium networks now expect to be distributed across hybrid pay-TV and streaming environments.

Which titles anchor the offering?

The programming slate Starz highlighted alongside the announcement is built around its established franchises and drama pipeline:

• The full "Power" Universe, plus the upcoming "Power: Origins"
• Hit drama "Fightland"
• Every episode of "Outlander" and its prequel, "Outlander: Blood of my Blood"
• The upcoming season of the award-winning "P-Valley"
• The current season of crime drama "S.W.A.T. Exiles"
• The thriller "Tip Toe"

The emphasis on upcoming seasons signals that Starz views the Verizon restoration partly as a launch platform for new content. Carriage windows timed to premiere dates typically give networks the widest possible subscriber base when new seasons debut, which is when premium churn risk is highest.

Why the deal matters for carriage economics

No financial terms were disclosed, which is standard for distribution agreements of this type. What the announcement does show is that both parties found enough commercial value in the linear-plus-app bundle to renew rather than walk away.

For Verizon, the deal restores a premium programming option to Fios, a product that continues to serve a shrinking but persistent base of traditional pay-TV households in the US market. For Starz, widened traditional distribution still matters despite its direct-to-consumer streaming push, because carriage deals deliver wholesale subscriber revenue and promotion across operator platforms.

Hoffman's statement points to the strategy behind the content slate. Starz positions itself around programming aimed at women and underrepresented audiences, a differentiated pitch in a premium market dominated by larger general-entertainment competitors.

Fios subscribers regain access to the channels, on-demand catalog and app under the new agreement, with the upcoming premieres of "Power: Origins" and the new "P-Valley" season set to be among the first major titles to benefit from the restored reach.