Major Streamer Could Be Shutting Down For Millions Amid Major Dispute

Published Sep 30, 2026, 9:01 PM EDT Growing up around performers, storytelling was always central to Emma's life. Add in a nerdy older brother who introduced her to Marvel at far too young an age, and her love for entertainment led her to pursue a Journalism degree at Indiana University, where she discovered her passion for entertainment reporting. She spent nearly one year in Los Angeles covering industry stories and fully immersing herself in the world of entertainment media. Sign in to your ScreenRant account Starz could soon disappear for Verizon FiOS customers amid an ongoing carriage dispute between the two companies. The network is home to shows including Outlander, Power Book IV: Force, and S.W.A.T. Exiles. If a new distribution agreement isn't reached, Verizon could remove Starz's channels, on-demand content, and app access. MovieStillsDB According to Deadline, Starz Networks President Alison Hoffman warned viewers to prepare for the possibility of Verizon removing Starz, saying: “Unless an agreement is reached imminently, our viewers should be prepared for Verizon to remove Starz.” However, that doesn't mean Starz itself is going away. The network's standalone streaming service would not be affected by the dispute, meaning FiOS customers would still have another way to watch Starz programming if the channels go dark. What exactly does this mean for viewers? For Verizon FiOS customers who already receive Starz through their television package, the biggest change would be where they can watch it. Losing the network would mean losing its FiOS channels and on-demand library, along with Starz app access tied to a Verizon subscription. ​​​​​​ That could become especially frustrating for viewers following some of Starz's number 1 streaming series, particularly the newly premiered S.W.A.T. Exiles. None of the biggest shows are being canceled or removed from Starz because of the dispute; they would simply no longer be available through Verizon FiOS if the companies fail to make a deal. The current dispute is also different from some of the increasingly common fights between television providers and major media companies. Starz ended 2025 with 17.6 million subscribers, and roughly three-quarters of its subscriber base came from streaming rather than traditional television distribution. Still, Starz argues there is more at stake than where its customers watch. In her statement, Hoffman emphasized the network's position as an independent programmer, adding, “Limiting access to Starz would reduce competition and consumer choice.” That gives Starz viewers a fairly straightforward alternative. Even if Verizon removes the network, FiOS customers can still subscribe directly to Starz and stream its programming separately. More broadly, the dispute is another reminder of how complicated the line between traditional television and streaming has become. Verizon explains that carriage agreements allow TV providers to carry programming owned by other companies, with those deals periodically requiring renegotiation. When the two sides can't agree on new terms, customers can ultimately be the ones who lose access. For now, nothing has actually gone dark. Starz and Verizon could still reach a new agreement before viewers lose anything. But Hoffman's warning makes clear that the possibility is no longer hypothetical, and FiOS customers who rely on Verizon for Starz may soon have to change how they watch some of their favorite shows. STARZ