​Starz is now ramping up its promotion for new bestseller adaptation “Outlander,” entered this year’s Golden Globes with six nominations (and one win) and is premiering its pirate drama “Black Sails” this weekend. As Starz expands its portfolio with more original series, Variety spoke with CEO Chris Albrecht about the cable group’s programming strategy based on modest development costs.

Albrecht is very clear that he plans on keeping costs low in order to expand Starz’s portfolio of high quality originals. Starz, which is actually a group of 17 premium channels in all, will unveil its largest lineup of original series in 2014, starting with Saturday’s “Black Sails.” The Michael Bay-produced drama is set in the 1700s world of Navy captains and rival pirates.

Add in “Outlander,” Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson’s “Power” and a few more series coming up, Albrecht says that 2014 will see a total of four to five new series on the channel.

Since its split from Liberty Media this time last year, Starz was late to the premium game in some ways, trying to acquire theatrical titles on the same level as HBO and Showtime while it planned original series to set itself apart. A deal that came shortly after that lost Starz’s Disney titles to Netflix starting in 2016, but Albrecht says the decision was entirely mutual and allows the group to allot more money to its original programming plan (edgy original series that might not have fit in well with Disney’s family friendly brand anyway).

According to Variety, the challenge for Albrecht and his Starz group has now become building the Starz brand without being part of a larger corporation. Using its new period dramas with global appeal, the premium channel might be able to create a solid portfolio of shows that make sense within the Starz universe.

Read more at Variety.

Brief Take: With high quality titles under its belt, Starz will be able to heighten its brand throughout 2014, helping it compete with other premium groups like HBO and Showtime.

[Image courtesy of Variety]

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