Starz Narrows Its Quarterly Loss as Streaming Revenue Edges Up
Starz cut its net loss to $34.8 million in the three months to September 30, down from $52.6 million a year earlier, according to its third-quarter results released on Thursday, October 29, 2026. The US streaming and cable company, which separated from Lionsgate in May 2025, said its revenue reached $322.4 million. That was ahead of the $319.5 million that analysts polled by LSEG had expected.
The headline numbers are a mixed picture, and the company's split between two kinds of business explains why. Starz's streaming service, which it counts as over-the-top (OTT, meaning video delivered over the internet rather than through a cable box), brought in $226.6 million. That is up 1.7% from $222.8 million a year earlier. Adjusted for a change to its Canadian operations, which moved to a content licensing arrangement in the fourth quarter of 2025, the company says the growth would have been 3.2%.
The older cable and other business moved the other way. Its linear TV and other revenues fell to $95.8 million from $98.1 million. Linear means traditional channels that are scheduled and watched at set times.
Per share, Starz reported a diluted loss of $2.02. Analysts had forecast a loss of $2.96 per share, according to LSEG.
Starz also pointed to a film that has done well on its service. Lionsgate's Michael arrived on Starz after its August 10 cinema release. Variety reports that it became the best-performing title in Starz history in the "Pay 1" window, the first paid-TV slot after a film leaves theatres. Starz is not the only place it plays, but the window is the one that brings in subscription money for that film's period on the service.
The company is also building its own shows. Variety reports that Fightland is Starz's first owned original series, meaning one it makes and controls itself rather than one it licenses from another studio. That detail matters for the people who work on it. Owning a series means the company, not an outside partner, carries the cost and holds the rights when the run ends.
Starz chief executive Jeffrey Hirsch and chief financial officer Scott Macdonald were scheduled to hold an analyst and investor call at 5:00 PM EDT on Thursday. Investors will look for more detail on subscriber trends and the company's plans for owned content there.
