Starz Wants To Be Part Of Broadband Bundle

Last week Comcast said it was testing an "Internet Plus" package that includes HBO, a select number of cable channels and a 20 to 25 Megabit service for $40 per month for the first year rising to $70 per month after that.

During a Wednesday earning conference call with analysts and reporters, Starz CEO Chris Albrecht said the Internet Plus package is an idea Startz has been pushing with cable TV providers for "awhile."

"We certainly hope that other distributors will look at that. I think that shows the value of these brands and how historically they have pulled through and cemented in a lot of technologies"” Albrecht continued. "We think there is an opportunity for Starz there as well."

As to the future of Starz, Albrecht said the channel is on track to reach its goal of producing 50 hours of original programming a year by 2014. The channel has several new shows in production, including "Outlander," from "Battlestar Galactica" producer Ronald D. Moore. Shows in development include "WonderWorld," an FBI drama  from "Law and Order's" Rene Balcer and actor Owen Wilson.

Albrecht also dismissed reports that Netflix is talking with television distributors about an app for set-top boxes.

"I’m not sure when Netflix can expect to be bundled into the set-top box," Albrecht said. "That could be a long road, if ever. I think there are a lot of reasons why cable operators would not want to do that, including the fact they have higher margin products they can sell on their own platforms that bring a much more robust cumulative amount of programming to the consumer in earlier windows."