Of course this the name of the game isn’t it? More subscribers, more money in, and less money out because Lionsgate would be getting people attached to shows they own outright (See: The Continental and The Rook) instead of shows they are partnering on like Outlander.īUT - and this is a BIG BUT - I choose not to feed into the cynical part of me. In other words, STARZ could be using Outlander on Netflix to enhance the prospect of getting people to buy subscriptions that would prop up other content for the future. So, by putting Outlander in the hands of the common person, STARZ is ensuring more eyes on its product, more potential subscribers, and more chances of getting those people hooked on its OTHER content that STARZ/Lionsgate is solely producing.
Maybe it’s not as valuable to STARZ/Sony and they have decided to make it free for Netflix users to maximize it’s final legs. No, this does not mean Outlander is going to be canceled, but, again, the cynical view here is that Outlander COULD be on its way out. The scary part is that all of those shows have since been canceled. version of Netflix, including Spartacus, Ash vs. Of course, STARZ properties currently are on the U.S. Even though Netflix probably paid a pretty penny in fees to help distribute seasons 1 and 2 of Outlander, one clear fact still remains true: STARZ does not peddle its product from its platform. The cynic in me, however, still sees one common denominator. The most likely scenario is that Lionsgate (the parent company of STARZ) is trying to expand its reach to increase overall revenue for bigger purposes by propping up potential subscriptions with a tested IP (intellectual property) that also happens to represents a fair cross-section of its current content. The first is the most likely, the second is really cynical, and the others are overly positive. Well, there could be a number of reasons.
See Game of Thrones on HBO.īut why make this move now? Better yet, why would STARZ, the sole distributor of Outlander for the United States, give up its leverage on the second most popular television show in its current lineup?
It’s a tried and true model that lends itself to direct subscriptions and even a sense of elite level proprietary content. Generally, if one wanted to watch a STARZ original, whether it be Power, The White Princess, The Spanish Princess, American Gods etc., they had to subscribe directly to STARZ. Let’s acknowledge this up front: STARZ does not expose its IP very often. While I think we can all agree that the more Fraser we have in our lives, the better off the world would be, I do think it appropriate to look at how much of an effect this kind of exposure can truly have on our favorite couple. Not to mention the fact that Outlander season 4 ratings showed an overall average 31% dip from its previous season. So there is going to be a substantial uptick in eyes watching Mr. That subscription opportunity is staggering for a show that normally averages a little over 1 million people per episode.
With the announcement that Outlander seasons 1 and 2 will be released on Netflix on in the U.S., we explore the potential implications of the Netflix effect on Outlander the show.įive years and four seasons into its run, Outlander is finally going to be accessible to anyone who has a Netflix account (or anyone who’s stealing their parents’/friends’ password from THEIR Netflix accounts.) Since there are over 61.97 MILLION Netflix subscribers in the United States, this is a pretty substantial development for not only Outlander, but STARZ and Lionsgate as well.