Starz Entertainment Ups Michael Thornton

ENGLEWOOD: Michael Thornton has been promoted to the newly created role of executive VP of acquisitions, business affairs and legal at Starz Entertainment.

Thornton’s new duties will include programming acquisitions and studio relations for the first-run output and library film content for linear channels and associated on-demand and online family of services. He is taking over the responsibilities of Stephan Shelanski, Starz’s executive VP of programming, who is leaving the company by the end of 2012.

Working out of Englewood, Colorado, Thornton will continue to develop the strategic direction of business and legal affairs related to the acquisition of programming content for the company’s linear channels, on-demand and online services, among other responsibilities.

Before joining Starz last year, Thornton held a number of senior executive positions at companies such as Disney/ABC Domestic Television and DIRECTV.

"I am very pleased that Michael Thornton has agreed to further expand his wide-ranging responsibilities at Starz as part of the senior management team," said Chris Albrecht, the CEO of Starz. "Few in the industry understand the economics and business/legal dynamics of theatrical movie content and multichannel premium pay television better than Michael, who already oversees business and legal affairs matters for our acquired theatrical content. Expanding his management role to include studio relations and programming acquisition is a logical extension of his considerable talents. Along with responsibilities for the growing Starz Media Worldwide distribution business and the Starz Digital team, Michael is an invaluable contributor to the success at Starz."