Streaming Channel With Over 17M Subscribers Restored After Major Blackout

Published Oct 20, 2026, 6:12 PM EDT Adam Bentz is a senior news writer at ScreenRant, where he has authored nearly 5,000 articles, including features and lists. He studied creative writing and English with a concentration in screenwriting at Southern New Hampshire University and interned as a writer/journalist for The Borgen Project, an influential organization that fights global poverty. However, one of his proudest achievements is editing a Leonardo DiCaprio freakout compilation that has over 150K views on YouTube. Adam also fancies himself an amateur film critic on his personal website. A streaming service with over 17 million subscribers has been restored after a major blackout. Streaming has exploded in popularity, with Netflix leading the pack at 325 million subscribers, followed by Prime Video at 205 million, Disney+ with 196 million, and HBO Max with 140 million. There are also some smaller streaming services, such as STARZ, which only has about 17 million subscribers and recently saw service shut down for millions of paying customers amid a major dispute with Verizon FiOS. Now, three weeks later, the streaming service has been restored for millions of subscribers. Today, STARZ announced a new distribution deal that restores all channels, including STARZ On Demand and the STARZ app, through Verizon FiOS. Alison Hoffman, President, STARZ Networks, shared the following statement: We are pleased to have reached a mutually beneficial agreement that brings STARZ’s premium programming to Verizon Fios customers. We remain committed to delivering bold storytelling for women and underrepresented audiences and to serving viewers who value our distinctive programming. STARZ disappeared from Verizon FiOS earlier this month after both sides failed to negotiate a new distribution agreement. As is typical in these situations, the terms of the new deal remain undisclosed. When the dispute began, Verizon accused STARZ of "selling its service direct to consumers for as low as $2.50 a month [but] demanding Verizon customers pay double that amount for access to the same content." Starz, meanwhile, argued that Verizon "mischaracterized our position." In recent years, the premium network has increasingly focused on streaming, ending the October-December quarter with 12.7 million subscribers in the United States, an increase of 370,000 from the previous quarter. STARZ wrapped up 2025 with 17.6 million subscribers, with streaming accounting for roughly 75% of its audience. However, the standalone streaming service has remained unaffected by the dispute, giving Verizon FiOS customers an alternative way to watch their favorite STARZ shows and movies. ​​​​​​ The deal restores access to STARZ's extensive lineup of programming, including the entire Power universe and the upcoming Power: Origins. Subscribers can also enjoy the hit drama Fightland, all episodes of the beloved romance Outlander and its acclaimed prequel, Outlander: Blood of My Blood, the upcoming season of the award-winning P-Valley, the latest season of crime drama S.W.A.T. Exiles, and the acclaimed thriller Tip Toe. Beyond its popular series, STARZ boasts an impressive movie selection, including Michael starring Jaafar Jackson, the action thriller Shelter starring Jason Statham, the high-octane In the Grey starring Jake Gyllenhaal, Henry Cavill, and Eiza González, and the musical comedy Power Ballad starring Paul Rudd and Nick Jonas. STARZ