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UK BROADCASTER SKY ENTERS THE RING AS CO-COMMISSION PARTNER ON STARZ'S BOXING DRAMA "FIGHTLAND" EXECUTIVE PRODUCED BY CURTIS '50 CENT' JACKSON
Original Series Propels STARZ's Slate Expansion for Women and Underrepresented Audiences; Network's Next Chapter
Anchored in Self-Owned IP
Santa Monica, Calif. - February 26, 2026 - STARZ (NASDAQ: STRZ) and Sky co-commissions the original series "Fightland," a high-octane crime drama set in the cutthroat, high-stakes world of British boxing, bolstering STARZ's slate for women and underrepresented audiences.
This latest alliance is an extension of STARZ's ongoing creative partnership with the U.K. broadcaster spanning recently announced critically acclaimed prestige projects including the period drama "Amadeus," and the darkly comic thriller "Sweetpea." The co-commission deal also includes Sky future first look partnerships on some of STARZ's upcoming series.
"Fightland" is STARZ's first wholly owned series, setting in motion the strategy to build a fully owned pipeline as a standalone company. This milestone advances STARZ's slate expansion of premium originals, high-value acquisitions, and hit franchises, creating efficiencies to enable the network to deliver even more programming to serve women and underrepresented audiences.
"Fightland" is slated to air later this year in the U.S. on the STARZ app and all STARZ streaming and on-demand platforms, and will broadcast on Sky and the streaming service NOW in the U.K. and Ireland. The series recently wrapped season one production in London.
"Fightland" is a gripping story of redemption, betrayal, and brutal ambition in and out of the ring. Executive-produced by Curtis "50 Cent" Jackson through his G-Unit Film & Television, the eight-episode crime drama follows Maduka "Duke" Kilroy (Howard Charles), a disgraced, formerly incarcerated boxing champion who returns to London to seek vengeance against the crime family he thinks betrayed him. With edge-of-your-seat action and a cast of dangerous characters, this is a world of money and power never seen before.
"We're thrilled to be stepping back in the ring with our partners at Sky and look forward to building upon the next chapter of our long-standing creative collaboration together," said Kathryn Busby, President of Original Programming, STARZ. "'Fightland' delivers a dynamic blend of action and fearless, character-driven storytelling set against the vibrant backdrop of British boxing. We're proud to debut this bold drama as our first-fully owned original series."
Katie Keenan, Group Director of Acquisitions for Sky UK and Europe, says: "'Fightland' is a bold and compelling British production with a distinctive voice and the potential for true global impact. We are proud to partner with STARZ to continue offering premium, character-driven storytelling for our customers. This series is a natural fit for our growing Sky audiences who are drawn to ambitious, high-impact drama."
STARZ is the premium streaming home for women and underrepresented audiences, driven by inclusive, adult storytelling and an unwavering commitment to the viewers it serves. STARZ's expanding slate is a blend of self-owned originals ("Fightland"), prestige acquisitions ("Amadeus," "The Listeners"), and powerhouse franchises ("Outlander," "Power").
Curtis "50 Cent" Jackson is executive producer through his G-Unit Film & Television, along with Francis Hopkinson ("Wallander," "Bancroft") and Kate Leadbetter ("Woman in White," "Catherine the Great") of Expanded Media who also produces. Damione Macedon ("Power," "BMF," "Genius: MLK/X") and Raphael Jackson Jr. ("Power," "BMF," "Genius: MLK/X") are showrunners, executive producers and writers. Daniel Fajemisin-Duncan and Marlon Smith serve as executive producers and writers.
About STARZ
STARZ (NASDAQ: STRZ) is the leading premium entertainment destination for women and underrepresented audiences, and home to some of the most popular franchises and series on television. STARZ offers a robust programming mix for discerning adult audiences, including boundary-breaking originals and an expansive lineup of blockbuster movies, and is embodied by its brand positioning "We're All Adults Here." Complementary to any platform or service, STARZ is available across a wide range of digital OTT platforms and multichannel video distributors and is a bundling partner of choice. STARZ is powered by an industry-leading advanced technology, data analytics and digital infrastructure and the highly rated and first-of-its-kind STARZ app.
About Sky
Sky connects and entertains millions of people across Europe. At the heart of everything we do, is a belief that people deserve better. For decades, we've shaken up every category we entered to give people what they love, to make life a little easier and to provide great value. That's how we bring millions of customers the joy of a better experience in TV, broadband and mobile. In TV, we offer the best sports coverage, unmissable TV and the smartest ways to stream and aggregate the TV you love. In broadband, we power homes and businesses, with a fast, reliable connection. In mobile, we bring people closer, with plans at unbeatable value. And now, you can even keep your home connected and protected, through our smart insurance. We design our products to fit seamlessly into your life, with service whenever and however you need it. That's how we do better for customers. And we believe in better for society too. We power the cultural economy in the UK and beyond, making award-winning news, original sport, and entertainment. We contribute billions to UK GDP, creating and sustaining thousands of jobs and sharing both our journalism and our coverage of the arts, free of charge. We are cutting emissions and making recyclable, energy-efficient products, and we give back, through free internet access and digital skills for under-served communities and young people. Sky is owned by Comcast Corporation, a global media and technology company.
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