Tired of paying big bucks for streaming services like Netflix, Disney+, Max, etc. Why not give Starz a try? Yes, this is the same Starz that offers premium cable content including movies, shows, and original programming. Like many giants in the video-on-demand world, Starz also offers apps for mobile, smart TVs, and streaming devices, as well as a web player. It’s also a little cheaper than its competitors.
But does Starz have the kind of movies and TV shows you and your family want? And what about the quality and cost? Don’t worry, friends. Our ever-discerning friends at Digital Trends have made many successful streaming services, and we’ll do the same with Starz.
What are Stars?
Like several other premium cable channels that added streaming apps or web players later, Starz joins the ranks of competitors like Max (formerly HBO Max), Showtime, and Epix. The Starz premium cable channel was launched in 1994 and quickly became known for its impressive movie catalog and original content.
Starz channels and on-demand programming are available through most cable and satellite providers. Subscribers can also choose from both the standard Starz package and the Starz Encore package. The latter includes some movies and shows that are different from Starz proper.
Starz can also be purchased as a standalone service that can be accessed through the Starz mobile app or smart TV/streaming device app. You can also use both versions of the Starz app and the web player using your TV provider login.
How much does Starz cost?
If you want to use Starz as a standalone streaming service, you can expect to pay a subscription fee of $10 per month, or $75 per year. New plans often come with at least a week of free service that lets you test every nook and cranny of the platform, and Starz is currently discounting your first three months of subscription to $3.
For $10 a month (or $75 a year), you unlock the entire Starz streaming experience. This includes up to 5 user profiles with parental controls, offline downloads, and his 4 simultaneous streams at once.
Starz happens to be a discounted (or completely free) add-on when you sign up and log in to the service as part of your streaming or ISP bundle. In fact, right now, Amazon Prime members can add the Starz channel to their Prime Video app for just $2 a month for their first two months.
You may also want to keep an eye out for Starz deals through your cable provider. In fact, my own family currently enjoys free access to Starz by paying for Optimum’s Premier plan. The first time you launch Starz, simply sign in to the Starz app through your TV service provider.
Movies, shows and original content
Like the rest of the streaming and premium cable industry, Starz has a vast library of movies and TV shows, with several popular series exclusive to the platform.These include many current hit shows like Power spin-off, outlanderand run around the world. You can also watch older Starz original shows, including originals. Power series, american gods, spartacusand party down.
Starz has over 1,000 movies covering all major genres, in addition to the platform’s exclusives. A few years ago, Lionsgate (Starz’s parent company) and Universal also announced that after an 18-month license period to Peacock and Prime, Starz subscribers would have access to movies from Universal Pictures, Blumhouse, Focus Features, and more. I made a deal that I could do it. video.
Using the Starz app
I tested the Starz mobile app and streaming device app using an iPhone 12 and Roku Streaming Stick 4K.
The Starz mobile app is available for iOS and Android devices. You can also download the app to most smart TVs and streaming devices. Conveniently, both the mobile and streaming device versions of the Starz app are essentially the same, with one important difference. It’s an offline download. You can download movies and shows to watch later only through the Starz mobile app.
In both the Starz mobile app and the streaming device app, Starz is simple and clean. Once you sign in to your account, you’ll be taken to the home screen, where your movies and shows will be categorized into rows of categorized content. Some of these labels include New work, just added, trending nowand your playlistyour saved movies and shows will be displayed.
When you select series and movie The tab shows more options for both categories with similar filters.when choosing Browseyou can search for content by genre or use filters such as: trending now and just added.
When selected more (this is 3 lines icon) to check the content added to the playlist. On mobile, you can also see what content you’ve downloaded for offline viewing.You can also choose setting Adjust playback quality (mobile), view account information, and find support tools.
Once you select a movie or show, you can read the synopsis, watch the trailer, download the content for offline (mobile) viewing, or add it to a playlist. You can also share a link to a movie or show by tapping . share icon in the top right corner of the screen (mobile).
Using Starz Web Player
Starz doesn’t offer a dedicated desktop app, but if you insist on using the platform on your Mac or PC, know that the web version works and looks just like the mobile version. I’m sure you’ll be happy. Streaming device app.
In fact, there are only a few differences between the two formats. The first is that the Starz site pushes all of your content filters and settings into one drop-down menu. Click . 3 lines You can tell by looking at the icon movie, series, playlist, settingother categories.
Another difference is that schedule tab (if you’re signed in to Starz through your TV provider). This tab lets you see what’s airing all month long on various Starz TV channels.You will also be able to click watch live Start watching movies and shows that are currently showing.
Video and audio quality
Unlike other streaming platforms, Starz limits the quality of its movies and TV shows to 1080p, which is a bit of a bummer for those of us who love 4K TVs. That said, the image quality in both the mobile/streaming app and web player was crisp and crisp. Also, the stream never took too long to load, and there was little to no buffering after the first few seconds of playback.
In addition to traditional stereo sound, the Starz app also supports Dolby 5.1 for certain movies and shows. Unfortunately, formats like Dolby Atmos and DTS:X are not supported by Starz.
compatibility
As mentioned earlier, the Starz mobile app is available for iOS and Android devices. The web player version of the platform can be accessed at Starz.com.
When it comes to smart TVs and streaming devices, the Starz app is available on most Samsung, Sony, LG, and Vizio smart TVs. You can also download apps for Apple TV, Nvidia Shield, most Amazon Fire TV devices, and most Roku devices.
verdict
If you’re looking for a new entertainment app packed with movies, shows, and original content, or if you want premium channels on your cable plan, Starz is the place to be.
While it may not offer the same picture and sound quality as competitors like Netflix and Prime Video, Starz has a great lineup of constantly rotating content, with shows like: Power and outlander The subscription price alone is almost worth it.
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