Starz’s film download service shuts

Liberty Media Corp.’s pay TV subsidiary Starz is pulling the plug on its Vongo movie-download service in favor of letting Verizon Communications Inc. and other affiliates market a similar service.

Starz said it had notified visitors to Vongo’s website that it was no longer accepting new subscribers as of Aug. 1 and that the Vongo service would cease after Sept. 30.

It directed users to sign up for Starz Play, an identical service offered through Verizon for $5.99 a month, regardless of whether they were already a Verizon customer.

Starz is looking to partner with additional service providers.