Searching for a new show to watch promises to be a little quicker next year as another streaming service has announced plans to shutter its UK operation. Following in the footsteps of Peacock, Lionsgate+ has confirmed that it will close its streaming in the UK from February 29, 2024.
The streamer, which boasts 14.8 million subscribers worldwide, is available as a standalone app on set-top boxes like Apple TV, Chromecast, Fire TV, and Roku. It’s also preinstalled on Sky Glass and Sky Stream, or available as a Prime Video Channel for Prime Video subscribers.
Lionsgate+ is a relatively new brand, which was introduced in 2022 to replace StarzPlay.
Unlike Disney+, which has a sprawling library of instantly recognisable shows and films, Lionsgate+ has a more modest catalogue of shows. However, it boasted a number of exclusive series from US network Starz, including the loosely autobiographical series Power from 50 Cent, critically adored show The Great, fan-favourite drama Outlander, and Dr Death based on the hit podcast of the same name, to name a few.
The Great was one of the flagship shows for Lionsgate+ in the UK
LIONSGATE PLUS PRESS OFFICE
As you’d expect, the streamer also boasts an impressive library of Lionsgate films, including The Hunger Games series, Reservoir Dogs, Olympus Has Fallen, and Magic Mike.
There’s no word on what will happen to upcoming shows due to air exclusively on Lionsgate+ in the UK. Outlander was a Prime Video exclusive for five seasons in the UK, but following the Lionsgate+ rebrand last year, the show was made exclusive to the streamer.
For that same streaming service to close its doors one year later is pretty frustrating for longtime fans. While it’d make sense for the next batch of episodes, due to release next year, to return to Amazon’s streamer ...that’s not confirmed or guaranteed.
The Great has previously enjoyed a second run on Channel 4, following its launch on Lionsgate+. It’s possible we’ll see a similar deal with future seasons of the show, so fans can continue to watch.
And following a long overdue announcement from Sky TV and Channel 4 this month, those with a Sky Q box will finally be able to binge-watch the series on-demand too.
If you currently hold a Lionsgate+ subscription, you can continue to watch your favourite shows and movies on the streamer as normal until February 29, 2024.
After that deadline, you’ll receive a pro-rated refund of your current subscription fee. This will be credited to the original payment method used for the streamer. For example, if you paid for an annual subscription last monthyou will be refunded for the time after February 29 when it’ll no longer be possible to watch Lionsgate+.
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS
Lionsgate+ will continue to operate in the United States as normal. The shuttering of its UK operations comes almost exactly one year after the company closed its streamer in France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Benelux, the Nordics and Japan. At the time, the company said the move contributed to a $1.75bn operating loss for the second quarter of 2022.
There’s serious turmoil in the streaming market at the moment. As well as recent closures of smaller streamers, Hollywood studios have agreed to begin licensing their TV shows and movies to Netflixonce more, following years of an unofficial ban. The block was designed to allow each studioto build its own streamer with exclusive titles to draw audiences.
As the recent move from Lionsgate proves, building that audience and maintaining a flow of original must-see content for subscribers can be a tough business.
