Starz’ Annual Subscription Just Got Cheaper – CNET [CNET]

Why You Can Trust CNET

Our expert, award-winning staff selects the products we cover and rigorously researches and tests our top picks. If you buy through our links, we may get a commission. Reviews ethics statement

The price drop comes not long after Starz increased the cost of its monthly subscription.

CNET freelancer Gael Fashingbauer Cooper, a journalist and pop-culture junkie, is co-author of “Whatever Happened to Pudding Pops? The Lost Toys, Tastes and Trends of the ’70s and ’80s,” as well as “The Totally Sweet ’90s.” If Marathon candy bars ever come back, she’ll be first in line.

If you’re thinking of subscribing to the Starz streaming service — perhaps to catch up on hit romantic time-traveling drama Outlander — then paying annually might be the way to go. Starz has dropped its annual subscription price from $75 to $70, making it one of the cheaper yearly options available. 

The price drop comes just two months after Starz raised its monthly subscription price from $9 to $10 per month on June 26. The June price hike was the first price increase for Starz since 2016, when it launched as a stand-alone digital service. The channel began as a premium cable offering.

“As one of the few streaming networks that is profitable, we are always looking for ways to drive success for the business while providing great value to our customers,” Alison Hoffman, president of domestic networks for Starz, said in a statement. “Our annual plan subscribers are some of our most valuable customers, so we wanted to find ways to drive more people into the plan and reward our existing customers.”

Current Starz annual subscribers will see the new price on their next bill.

Starz, an ad-free service, may be best known for such shows as Outlander, Power and The White Queen. As a Lionsgate-owned company, Starz also airs the studio’s movies and shows, such as John Wick and Saw. 

Starz has a deal with Universal to broadcast its lineup too, including movies such as Jurassic World Dominion, Minions: The Rise of Gru and Oppenheimer. Check out CNET’s rundown of the Starz app.

At $70, an annual subscription to Starz comes in below yearly options available from other popular streaming services. Hulu with ads costs $80 a year. Disney Plus Premium costs $110 a year, and Paramount Plus with Showtime comes in at $120 a year. 

Read more: YouTube TV vs. Hulu Plus Live TV: The Top Streaming Services Compared

Services and Software Guides