Encore Launches ‘Nonviolent’ TV Network

Backed by the nation’s biggest cable operator, the Encore cable channel launched its new Starz pay television network Tuesday with a promise that it will not air excessively violent films.

At a press gala that featured several major film industry figures, Encore Chairman John J. Sie said Starz will not show NC-17-rated movies and will shun “exploitation” and “B-grade” films. But Sie stopped short of specifying his criteria for unacceptable films, saying, “When you see it, you know it.”

Among those at the news conference were MCA President Sidney J. Sheinberg, Miramax Co-Chairman Harvey Weinstein, New Line Cinema Chairman Robert Shaye, actress Holly Hunter and Walt Disney Studios Chairman Jeffrey Katzenberg, who appeared via videotaped message.

Encore and Starz are at the center of a major pay television battle. Encore is backed by Liberty Media Corp., an affiliate of Denver-based cable giant Tele-Communications Inc. The launch of Starz, which premiered Tuesday night with “Scent of a Woman,” creates a head-to-head challenge to Time Warner’s HBO and Cinemax and Viacom’s Movie Channel and Showtime.

To launch Starz, Encore has lined up $2.3 billion in rights to major films from Universal Pictures, Carolco, New Line Cinema and Walt Disney’s Touchstone Pictures, Hollywood Pictures and Miramax Films. In addition to Starz, Encore plans to add six more specialty channels aimed at fans of Westerns, romantic films and youth movies.

Conspicuously missing from the Universal films available was “Jurassic Park” and “Schindler’s List,” both from director Steven Spielberg. MCA President Sidney Sheinberg said Spielberg and MCA officials have yet to decide on pay television rights for those highly sought films.

Starz will be available for about $4.95 a month initially on TCI systems, which means it will have limited availability for now in Southern California.