STARZ Launches in Canada

PRNewswire 5-Mar-2019 1:17 PM

– STARZ is now available in Canada via participating television providers and directly to consumers as an add-on to Crave –
– New STARZ original series NOW APOCALPYSE, from Gregg Araki and Steven Soderbergh and starring Canadian actor Avan Jogia, premieres this Sunday, March 10 on all STARZ platforms –

"…weird and funny and kinky and outlandish…sure to be a cult favourite" –
The Hollywood Reporter

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TORONTO, March 5, 2019 /PRNewswire/ - STARZ has officially launched in Canada, delivering a slate of the bold, diverse, and genre-bending programming that has already established the channel as one of the leading pay television services in the United States. STARZ is now the Canadian home of all new STARZ original programming, select library titles, and classic films from all eras, including the new millennial comedy series NOW APOCALYPSE from acclaimed filmmaker Gregg Araki who's behind such indie hits as Kaboom, the winner of the first-ever Queer Palm Award at the Cannes Film Festival in 2010.

Available as an add-on to Crave for $5.99/month and as two linear channels (following last week's rebrand of Encore), Canadians now have access to a lineup of buzz-worthy STARZ originals that also includes the highly anticipated spy-thriller THE ROOK premiering this summer; past seasons of popular titles such as POWER, PARTY DOWN, and THE GIRLFRIEND EXPERIENCE; critical darlings VIDA and SWEETBITTER; hundreds of fan-favourite movies, and more.

Streaming on Sunday, March 10 before its television premiere on STARZ that evening at 10 p.m. ET, the new, coming-of-age, half-hour comedy series NOW APOCALYPSE was created by Gregg Araki and executive produced by Steven Soderbergh. It was an official selection of the 2019 Sundance Film Festival and stars Canadian actor Avan Jogia, as well as Tyler Posey, Kelli Berglund, Beau Mirchoff, and Roxane Mesquida.

Between sexual and romantic dating-app adventures, the series follows Ulysses (Jogia) and his friends as they explore identity, sexuality, and artistry while navigating the strange and oftentimes bewildering city of Los Angeles. Ulysses grows increasingly troubled as foreboding premonitory dreams make him wonder if some kind of dark and monstrous conspiracy is going on, or if he is just smoking too much weed. Karley Sciortino, author, Vogue.com sex columnist, and creator and host of SLUTEVER on Viceland (also available on Crave), co-wrote the series with Araki and serves as consulting producer.

STARZ subscribers in Canada have access to the following series across two television channels, the SVOD platforms of participating television providers, and on the STARZ streaming service (available as an add-on to Crave), with new programming being added every month.

• AMERICA TO ME, Season 1 (March 10)
• BLACK SAILS, Season 1-4
• BOSS, Season 1-2
• COUNTERPART, Season 1-2
• DAN VS., Season 1-3
• DAVINCI'S DEMONS, Season 1-3
• THE GIRLFRIEND EXPERIENCE, Season 1
• GRAVITY
• MAGIC CITY, Season 1-2 (April)
• NOW APOCALPYSE (March 10)
• PARTY DOWN, Season 1-2
• POWER, Season 1-4 (Season 5 coming soon)
• SURVIVOR'S REMORSE, Season 1-4
• SWEETBITTER, Season 1 (new season 2019)
• VIDA, Season 1 (new season 2019)
• WARRIORS OF LIBERTY CITY (coming soon)
• THE WHITE QUEEN
• THE WHITE PRINCESS
• WRONG MAN

In addition, STARZ is home to hundreds of classic films with new titles launching every month. March sees the premiere of fan favourites such as The Breakfast Club (March 3), Big Trouble in Little China (March 8), Olympus Has Fallen (March 6), Patch Adams (March 8), This Is 40 (March 9), Sixteen Candles (March 10), Do the Right Thing (March 10), My Best Friend's Wedding (March 16), American Graffiti (March 17), Step Brothers (March 22), Les Misérables (March 23), and The Rocky Horror Picture Show (March 24).

How to get STARZ in Canada:

• On two linear channels and the on demand platforms of participating television providers.
• Via the STARZ streaming service which is available directly to all Canadians with access to the internet as an add-on to Crave for an additional $5.99/month. It can be accessed at Crave.ca, and the Crave app on iOS and Android, and Apple TV Generation 4, with additional platforms rolling out in the coming months.

About Bell Media
Bell Media is Canada's leading content creation company with premier assets in television, radio, out-of-home advertising, digital media, and more. Bell Media owns 30 local television stations led by CTV, Canada's highest-rated television network; 30 specialty channels, including TSN and RDS, and four pay TV services. Bell Media is Canada's largest radio broadcaster, with 215 music channels including 109 licensed radio stations in 58 markets across the country, all part of the iHeartRadio brand and streaming service. Bell Media owns Astral, an out-of-home advertising network of more than 30,000 faces in five provinces. Bell Media also operates more than 200 websites; video streaming services including Crave, TSN Direct, and RDS Direct; and multi-channel network Much Studios. The company produces live theatrical shows via its partnership with Iconic Entertainment Studios; owns a majority stake in Pinewood Toronto Studios; is a partner in Just for Laughs, the live comedy event and TV producer; and owns Dome Productions Inc., one of North America's leading production facilities providers. Bell Media is part of BCE Inc. ((TSX, NYSE:BCE), Canada's largest communications company. Learn more at www.BellMedia.ca.

About Lionsgate
The first major new studio in decades, Lionsgate (NYSE:LGF, LGF.B)) is a global content leader whose films, television series, digital products and linear and over-the-top platforms reach next generation audiences around the world.  In addition to its filmed entertainment leadership, Lionsgate content drives a growing presence in interactive and location-based entertainment, video games, esports and other new entertainment technologies.  Lionsgate's content initiatives are backed by a nearly 17,000-title film and television library and delivered through a global sales and distribution infrastructure.  The Lionsgate brand is synonymous with original, daring and ground-breaking content created with special emphasis on the evolving patterns and diverse composition of the Company's worldwide consumer base.

About Starz
Starz (www.starz.com), a Lionsgate company (NYSE:LGF, LGF.B)), is a leading global media and entertainment company that produces and distributes premium streaming content to worldwide audiences across subscription television platforms. Starz is home to the flagship domestic STARZ^® brand, STARZ ENCORE, 17 premium pay TV channels and the associated on-demand and online services, including the highly-rated STARZ app. With the launch of the STARZPLAY international premium streaming platform and STARZ PLAY Arabia, Starz is expanding its global footprint in a growing number of territories. Sold through multichannel video distributors, including cable operators, satellite television providers, telecommunications companies, and other online and digital platforms, Starz offers subscribers more than 10,000 distinct premium television episodes and feature films, including STARZ Original series, first-run movies and other popular programming.

SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS:

Twitter
@BellMediaPR
@Crave_PR
@CraveCanada
@Lionsgate
@StarzCanada

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