Lionsgate Eyeing Spin-Off of Studios Business, Rebrands Starzplay in 35 Nations

Lionsgate Entertainment's Starzplay streaming service is renaming itself Lionsgate+ in 35 nations this week, though it will remain Starz in the U.S. and Canada, the company said Wednesday. Starz CEO Jeffrey Hirsch said even with Starz and the Lionsgate studio business leaving Lionsgate Entertainment, "the Lionsgate brand will continue to be valuable to the ongoing success of our international platform.” Lionsgate Entertainment is increasingly looking at spinning off its studio business as part of its effort to separate its Starz and studio arms, per an SEC filing. It said it's continuing negotiations "with prospective strategic and financial partners on both sides of our business."