Starz Warns It Might Go Dark On Verizon FiOS Amid Carriage Dispute

Starz just issued a statement on the status of its negotiations with Verizon on a distribution agreement, warning of the potential loss of all of its channels, Starz on Demand and the Starz app through Verizon FiOs.

“Starz has been negotiating in good faith with Verizon on a distribution agreement that would ensure our shared customers continue to have uninterrupted access to Starz’s premium programming,” said Alison Hoffman, President of Starz Networks. “As an independent programmer dedicated to women and underrepresented audiences, Starz is vital to a competitive media marketplace, providing diverse programming alternatives to content from larger conglomerates. Limiting access to Starz would reduce competition and consumer choice. Unless an agreement is reached imminently, our viewers should be prepared for Verizon to remove Starz.”

Starz ended 2025 with 17.6 million subscribers and is also no longer reporting subscriber numbers. Unlike other programmers carrying live sports or news, it has a streaming service that accounts for about three-quarters of its subscribers base. In prior carriage disputes, distributors have encouraged their customers to sign up for Starz on streaming platforms. That dynamic makes the current dispute less likely to rattle the broader industry than showdowns between the likes of YouTube TV or Charter and broad entertainment programmers like Disney.

It’s worth noting that FiOS customers can sign up for Starz on streaming, which is not affected by the current dispute.