Albrecht envisions a rising Starz

Exclusive: At Starz, Chris Albrecht is boss, and also the irony does not escape him.The pay cabler is betting heavily on its next original series, "Boss," that provides Kelsey Grammer his most significant dramatic submit work centered by comedy.5-time Emmy champion plays a hot-headed Chicago mayor struggling with a fatal nerve disease he's avoiding both individuals near to him and the ingredients. It is a series that may bring Grammer the type of genre turnaround which has done miracles for Bryan Cranston.Albrecht does not anticipate auds will all of a sudden ignore "Frasier" as you're watching "Boss," but what he wants Grammer and also the series to complete is put Starz firmly in viewers' awareness. The internet, that has made some discoveries using its "Spartacus" franchise, continues to be finding its means by an extremely busy TV landscape."We have reached walk carefully and never get some things wrong,Inch Albrecht told Variety from in the Television Experts Assn. confab in Beverly Hillsides. "From the programming perspective, almost always there is chance to complete new items that has not been done before, but it is crowded available," he stated. "We began doing stuff at Cinemax when there have been four systems doing (original programming), and today there's 40. To ensure that always adds just a little different level of difficulty."Even when "Boss," which debuts March. 21, costs well for Starz, the freedom-possessed network will not reap all the benefits. The series is created by Lionsgate, and, as Cinemax can attest, significant cash is made when systems own their very own series. Cinemax, for instance, is the owner of both "Bet on Thrones" and "Boardwalk Empire," and makes millions when individuals shows air overseas.Albrecht is comfortable with this, obviously, but he sees it included in the Starz growing process. He thinks it does not matter who's having to pay production costs, the most crucial factor at this time is to buy the programs seen by as numerous TV viewers as you possibly can which that exposure can make Starz an aggressive player."We have made a decision to search for partners on a number of our shows outdoors from the U.S. since it is how we are searching at having the ability to increase,Inch Albrecht described. "The downside is that you simply don't take control of your brand outdoors from the U.S."About the distribution side, Starz -- that also includes numerous genre channels, in addition to Encore -- needs to get involved with more houses to be able to better contend with Cinemax and Showtime. And somewhat harming Starz's final point here is that you will find a reasonable share of homes that get the net's programming because cable companies, satcasters and telcos and therefore are bundling the channels for any reduced cost.One of the ways Starz is distinguishing itself from the pay cable competish is it greenlights series completely from development. The shortcut includes risks, however."We have added a diploma of difficulty to live in because we are not doing aircraft pilots. We don't wish to spend the cash to complete them," Albrecht stated. "Which has been a frightening process. Among the reasons from the pilot, apart from as being a sales tool, would be to consider it as an exercise run. You're able to return when you are in production and connect it. You cannot that after there is no pilot."Albrecht spent 22 years at Cinemax and headed a few of the net's signature shows, including "The Sopranos," "Sex and also the City" and "Deadwood." He looks back at individuals occasions and realizes when Starz will be area of the same conversation with Cinemax, he'll need to employ a little of the items he learned there from Shaun Bewkes and co. "Things I originate from Cinemax quite a bit of experience and appreciation based on how difficult it's and just how much we have to apply ourselves here," he described. "Things I also remove is it wasn't a secret formula, however it was an excellent formula and here I am trying things just a little different."Personally i think excellent about where we're artistically. I believe good is unquestionably yet in the future and that i feel totally bullish by using good proper thinking and execution about the business side, Starz has an excellent story to inform,Inch Albrecht added. "Which was area of the excitement of me coming here, to have the ability to have that type of relation to the organization." Contact Stuart Levine at stuart.levine@variety.com