Premium service Starz said it has extended chief operating officer Jeffrey Hirsch’s employment agreement with the company through December 2020.

Hirsch joined Starz in 2015 from Time Warner Cable and was named COO in 2016. In the past 18 months he helped launch Starz new streaming services and its app – which is nearing the 1-million-subscriber mark – rebranded the Starz network and repositioned the Starz Encore suite of services. In December, Apple named the Starz app one of Apple TV’s 10 Best Apps of the Year.  

"We are pleased to extend Jeff's tenure as COO of Starz, providing the company with great continuity as we continue our drive to be a powerhouse global content provider,” Starz CEO Chris Albrecht said in a statement. “In a short time at Starz, he re-energized growth at the company by rebranding the networks and launching one of the best streaming apps in the TV business, firmly securing the network’s position as the second most-subscribed to premium TV network in the U.S.* We look forward to working with him to drive revenue growth, innovation and global strategic opportunities to create long-term value for our shareholders.”

Hirsch continues to be responsible for overseeing Affiliate Sales, Marketing, Programming Operations, Network Scheduling, Content Acquisitions, Research, Starz Distribution and Technology and Product Development.

He joined Starz after more than 15 years at Time Warner Cable, starting with the former cable company in 1999 and serving in various roles, including stints in product development for TWC’s Ipad app, and as president for residential services in the cable operator’s New York, Los Angeles and Rochester, N.Y. regions. He was named EVP and Chief Marketing Officer in 2011, where he remained until leaving for Starz in 2015. Prior to TWC, Hirsch’s worked at NYNEX Corporation in product bundling and McCann-Erickson in advertising.

Encore will celebrate horror writer extraordinaire Stephen King by presenting films based on his works during September.

The premium network will present “The Stephen King Collection” featuring 19 different, uncut films dedicated to one of the most prolific horror writers of all time every night, beginning on Labor Day, Sept. 1 at 8 p.m. (ET/PT) with Jack Nicholson-starrer, The Shining (pictured).

Throughout September,“The Stephen King Collection” will feature some of the most his most memorable films including the 1986 action adventure Stand By Me starring Will Wheaton, River Phoenix and Cory Feldman; the prom horror classic Carrie starring Sissy Spacek and Piper Laurie; and the dog attacking thriller Cujo featuring a terrorizing St. Bernard.

Every night in September at 8:00pm ET/PT

9/1          The Shining, Part One (1997)

9/2          The Shining, Part Two (1997)

9/3          The Shining, Part Three (1997)

9/4          Stand By Me

9/5          Sometimes They Come Back –Note: Begins at 9:00pm due to Stand Up 2 Cancer

9/6          Salem’s Lot, Part One (1979), 9:35 pm Salem’s Lot Part Two (1979)

9/7          Dreamcatcher

9/8          Stephen King’s Storm of the Century, Part One (1999)

9/9          Stephen King’s Storm of the Century, Part Two (1999)

9/10        Stephen King’s Storm of the Century, Part Three (1999)

9/11        Carrie (2002)- 10:15 pm- The Rage, Carrie 2

9/12        Dreamcatcher

9/13        Maximum Overdrive

9/14        Hearts in Atlantis

9/15        Sometimes They Comeback

9/16        Desperation (Pending)

9/17        Dolores Clairborne

9/18        Needful Things

9/19        Secret Window

9/20        The Dead Zone

9/21        Cujo **Part of Stephen King’s All-day 67thBirthday Marathon

9/22        Stephen King’s Riding the Bullet

9/23        Hearts in Atlantis

9/24        Return to Salem’s Lot

9/25        Maximum Overdrive

9/26        Cujo

9/27        Christine

9/28        The Running Man

9/29        Salem’s Lot, Part One (1979)

9/30        Salem’s Lot, Part Two (1979)

**Stephen King’s 67thBirthday Marathon – Sunday, September 21ston ENCORE

   7:50am               Sometimes They Come Back

   9:30am               Secret Window

11:10am               Hearts in Atlantis

12:55pm               Salem’s Lot, Part One

  2:35pm                                Salem’s Lot, Part Two

  4:15pm                                Stand By Me

  5:45pm                                Dreamcatcher

  8:00pm                                Cujo
  9:35pm                                Christine

11:30pm                                Maximum Overdrive

Starz reported higher earnings in the second quarter, despite a sharp revenue retreat.

Net income rose 5% to $69 million, or 62 cents a share, from $66 million, or 52 cents a share a year ago.

Revenue fell 21% to $410.1 million from $517 million a year ago, because of a big drop in home video sales

"Our business performed well in the second quarter as we executed on our long-term strategy to build the Starz brand and create compelling original programming," Starz CEO, Chris Albrecht said in a statement. "We are pleased with the Starz original programming schedule, which is gaining meaningful traction with audiences and our distributors.”

The company said it had 22 million subscribers for its Starz network, up from 21.8 million a year ago, while subscribers to Encore slipped to 33.9 million from 35.1 million.