Starz Moving Original Programming to Sundays to Compete With HBO, Showtime, & AMC

[satam55]

Starz will soon see if it has the Power to compete with Game of Thrones and The Walking Dead.

The premium cable network announced on Wednesday that it is moving its original programming slate from Saturday to Sunday nights, beginning with the Season 3 premieres of Power (on July 17) and Survivor’s Remorse (on July 24).

“We see opportunity,” Starz CEO Chris Albrecht said in an exclusive statement to THR. “Saturdays have worked so well that we feel our shows are going to be able to stand up on the most watched night of the week.”

Though Power and Remorse won’t initially face Thrones (which concludes its sixth season on June 26) or TWD (which doesn’t return until October), the network is poised to compete with Showtime’s one-two punch of Ray Donovan and Roadies, HBO comedies Ballers and Vice Principals and AMC’s paranormal Preacher.

 

[jay211]

I think this is a mistake. They had Saturday all to themselves. Like how Cinemax has Fridays all to themselves. Why try and compete with those high profile networks? It will just cut into same day viewership. Really the premium networks don't even care about same day numbers, seems they really care about the weekly average. But still, not a great idea.

 

[MikelArteta]

Haven't watched stars since sword was put to purpose

 

[jay211]

Haven't watched stars since sword was put to purpose

R.I.P. SPARTACUS. It still hurts

 

[satam55]

Haven't watched stars since sword was put to purpose

You don't watch "Power" with the rest of The Coli?

 

[STAN JONES]

I think it's stupid to always show all your shows on the same night

Like I still can't get over Cinemax showing all their shows on Friday nights

The 2 days out the week im not trying to sit in the house watching tv is Friday and Saturday nights

I dont see why these premium networks cant show tv shows on a Monday or Tuesday or Wednesday or Thursday

Why does it have to be Friday,Saturday,or Sunday

Sunday is cool but everybody has shows on Sunday.

Spread that shyt out a little

 

[Cat piss martini]

Stupid ass move.......
Why leave a corner where all of the money
is yours to hit one you gotta compete and possibly
have to shoot a mutha fukka on?

 

[Red Shield]

This is a very VERY dumb fukking move

 

[TheNatureBoy]

Yeah, ultimately it doesn't really matter for them as Starz is a subscription channel and I would guess a small percentage of people actually watch their shows live when it actually airs. If anything I would guess it would be a perception thing and to get their shows in the conversation. Sunday night has been perceived as the night when the big cable shows air for a long time and maybe they want their shows to be at least mentioned among the group, even if people will just check them out on demand or DVR it for a later day.

Survivor's Remorse is a slept on show.

 

[The Devil's Advocate]

I think this is a mistake. They had Saturday all to themselves. Like how Cinemax has Fridays all to themselves. Why try and compete with those high profile networks? It will just cut into same day viewership. Really the premium networks don't even care about same day numbers, seems they really care about the weekly average. But still, not a great idea.

yea but nobody is home watching tv on a saturday night... they too busy enjoying life

it could work... game of thrones will be off by the time power hits it's stride... i don't even remember what comes back after that's over for hbo.. a lot of their top series are over

 

[Sonny Bonds]

If they still had Spartacus and aired it when Game of Thrones is in its off season, then sure. But who do they even have? Power and The Girlfriend Experience? And Black Sails? None of those shows can complete with HBO. Even just competing with Showtime, I'd rather watch The Affair instead. Starz is doing better, but they ain't there yet.

 

[Black Samurai]

You don't watch "Power" with the rest of The Coli?

Power is going to beat Ray Donavan in ratings. People seem to forget that Starz has more subscribers than Showtime. This isnt a bad move

 

[Optimus Prime]

Not a bad move at all. What's HBO got going at the same time as Power in July? If Power can get the same ratings as it got last season but on a Sunday, that would automatically raise the profile of the network. Black Sails runs in January to March, HBO don't have anything during that time either. GoT doesn't start til April and TWD on AMC doesn't usually come back til Mid-February...

 

[Mook]

Haven't watched stars since sword was put to purpose

I heard black sails is crazy.

 

[Sonny Bonds]

It's a pretty good show.

The only crazy thing about it is probably the budget compared to the ratings.