OMARI HARDWICK ADDS "POWER" TO STARZ DRAMA

Hardwick to Star in Original Drama Series From Executive Producer Curtis "50 Cent" Jackson and Creator Courtney Kemp Agboh

Beverly Hills, Calif., August 21, 2013 - Starz announced today that Omari Hardwick has been cast as the lead in "Power," an hour-long STARZ Original drama series executive produced by Curtis "50 Cent" Jackson and created by Courtney Kemp Agboh ("The Good Wife"), who will serve as executive producer and showrunner. Mark Canton (300, 300: Rise of an Empire, Escape Plan), Randall Emmett (End of Watch, 2 Guns, Lone Survivor) and David Knoller ("Big Love," "Carnivale") are executive producing in association with CBS Television Studios.

Hardwick will play James "Ghost" St. Patrick, a wealthy New York City nightclub owner who caters to the city's elite. He wants to build an empire, turn the club into a Fortune 500 business, but there's just one problem: he is living a double life. When he is not in the club, he is the kingpin of the most lucrative drug network in New York for a very high-level clientele. His marriage, family and business all become unknowingly threatened as he is tempted to leave his criminal life behind and become the rags-to-riches businessman he wants to be most of all.

"Omari is an actor of incredible range and versatility," said Starz Managing Director, Carmi Zlotnik. "When we met Omari, we knew he had all the tools needed to play such a complicated and complex character. We look forward to him bringing Ghost to life on the screen."

Hardwick's previous film credits include: Sparkle, For Colored Girls, Kick Ass and The A-Team. He has also appeared in several television series, including: "Dark Blue," "Breakout Kings" and "Saved."

The first season of "Power" will be eight, hour-long episodes and begins filming later this fall. It is expected to premiere on STARZ in 2014. Starz retains all global distribution and home entertainment rights to the series.

About Starz

Starz (NASDAQ: STRZA, STRZB) is a leading integrated global media and entertainment company with operating units that provide premium subscription video programming on domestic U.S. pay television channels (Starz Networks), global content distribution (Starz Distribution) and animated television and movie production (Starz Animation), www.starz.com.

Starz Networks is a leading provider of premium subscription video programming through the flagship STARZ(R) and ENCORE(R) pay TV networks which showcase premium original programming and movies to U.S. multichannel video distributors, including cable operators, satellite television providers, and telecommunications companies. As of June 30, 2013, STARZ and ENCORE serve a combined 56.9 million subscribers, including 21.8 million at STARZ, and 35.1 million at ENCORE, making them the largest pair of premium flagship channels in the U.S. STARZ(R) and ENCORE(R), along with Starz Networks' third network MOVIEPLEX(R), air more than 1,000 movies monthly across 17 linear networks, complemented by On Demand and authenticated online offerings through STARZ PLAY, ENCORE PLAY, and MOVIEPLEX PLAY. Starz Distribution develops, produces and acquires entertainment content, distributing it to consumers globally on DVD, digital formats and traditional television. Starz Distribution's home video, digital media and worldwide distribution business units distribute original programming content produced by Starz, as well as entertainment content for itself and third parties. Starz Animation produces animated TV and movie content for studios, networks, distributors and audiences worldwide.

About CBS Television Studios

CBS TELEVISION STUDIOS is one of the industry's leading suppliers of primetime network programming, including the #1 show on television, "NCIS"; the #2 most-watched drama, "NCIS: Los Angeles"; and the #1 most-watched new series, "Elementary." The studio's roster of popular and critically-acclaimed programs includes the globally successful "CSI" franchise; the Peabody Award-winning series "The Good Wife," starring multiple award winner Julianna Margulies; the Emmy Award nominated daytime talk show "The Talk"; People's Choice Award winner "Beauty and the Beast" for The CW; the cable series "King & Maxwell" for TNT and BET's #1 scripted series, "The Game."