Starz Encore Group launched its new premium all movie channel, STARZ! Kids, dedicated to kids ages 2-11 on Dec. 2, 2003. The new kids channel is available to affiliates at no additional license fee, and increases the number of unique channels in the Starz Super Pak to 13.
"We are delighted to launch STARZ! Kids which adds a new, unique and compelling dimension of choice and value to our digital premium movie channel platform," said Robert B. Clasen, president of sales and marketing, Starz Encore. "We realize that consumers want to enjoy commercial-free movie channels in a variety of genres, including children's programming. With the addition of STARZ! Kids, we expand the breadth of our dependable viewing choices and now offer premium movie enjoyment for everyone."
STARZ! Kids is the only all-movie premium channel to show one 100% family safe, G and PG rated movies, 24 hours a day, without commercials. The channel will draw on Starz Encore's extensive inventory of theatrical movies from major studios and independent suppliers, including Disney, Universal, New Line, Columbia Pictures, Warner Bros., Twentieth Century Fox, Paramount, MGM, Revolution Studios, Samuel Goldwyn Films and Miramax.
"We are privileged to enjoy an unparalleled inventory of films geared for young viewers particularly with our recent addition of exclusive first-run animated Disney movies," said Robert Leighton, president, Starz Encore Ent.
STARZ! Kids will, on a selected basis, offer television premieres of movies just for kids -- starting with Disney's THE JUNGLE BOOK 2, which will premiere on Dec. 10. STARZ! Kids will also feature fun, kid friendly interstitial programming with animated characters and vignettes.
Upcoming movies on STARZ! Kids include:THE JUNGLE BOOK 2DR. SEUSS' HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMASSNOW DOGSTUCK EVERLASTINGKERMIT'S SWAMP YEARSPIGLET'S BIG MOVIEMONSTERS, INC.
STARZ! Kids complements Starz Encore's family-focused channels: WAM!, the first commercial- free channel with a mix of movies and series specifically targeted to teens and tweens, and STARZ! Family, the first and only channel to show movies commercial-free for the whole family.
Starz Encore pioneered Thematic Multiplex movie channels in 1993 when the growth of digital multichannel homes was in its nascent stage. Starz Encore Group LLC (www.starzencore.com) is the largest provider of premium movie services in the U.S. with approximately 144 million pay units. Starz Encore is a wholly owned subsidiary of Liberty Media Corp.
