Starz Taps Michael Thornton For Biz & Legal Affairs Post

Michael Thornton, most recently EVP Business & Legal Affairs at Disney/ABC Domestic Television, has been appointed EVP Business and Legal Affairs – Programming, Digital and Worldwide Distribution at Starz Entertainment. Thornton will be responsible for developing the strategic direction of business/legal affairs related to the acquisition of programming content for the Starz Entertainment linear channels, on-demand, and online services. He also will oversee business/legal affairs for distribution of the Starz companies’ content with online/broadband distributors, transactional VOD/EST, and international syndication of Starz Original programming and Starz Media content. Meanwhile, Starz SVP Business Affairs – Programming Richard Turner said he is leaving the company after 12 years.