Liberty Media’s Starz is returning to the video streaming business

Wi-Fi through Cox Communications and its 4 million customers. Cox is expected to make a marketing push next week for services, a spokeswoman said Wednesday at the Liberty Media investor conference in New York City. While the services only support logins for Cox customers, they're expected to expand to other cable operators, including two of Starz’s biggest customers, Comcast and Dish Network, Starz CEO Chris Albrecht told us. Android versions of the apps will be available “soon,” as will be one for Starz’s Movieplex service, he said. The apps represent a return for Starz to a business it originally entered in 2008 with a broadband video service that was initially available through Verizon’s FiOS TV and FiOS Internet/DSL customers. At the time, Starz charged a $5.99 monthly fee. This time the app is free to subscribers. Meanwhile, Starz remains scheduled to split off from Liberty Media by year-end, Liberty Media CEO Gregory Maffei said. While Starz will emerge as an independent company, its future could be better served by partnering with or being acquired by a larger media company, Liberty Media Chairman John Malone said. “I think everyone needs a big brother,” and Starz would offer “substantial synergies” for large media companies, he said. Part of the reason for spinning Starz off was to enable the company to “explore other relationships,” Malone said. Having Starz as part of a larger company would strengthen its hand in competing with HBO and Showtime, Malone said. “It’s all about marketing and pricing power,” which Starz could gain with a larger partner, Malone said.