The Karen Bailey Starz exit ends a 20-year run at the network. Bailey, Starz’s executive vice president of original programming, will leave at the end of October, Variety reported in an exclusive. She helped build “Outlander” into the network’s flagship drama.
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Karen Bailey Starz Exit: A Two-Decade Career
Bailey joined Starz in 2006 as an executive producer and later rose to executive vice president of original programming, according to a 2022 profile in Next TV. Her slate included “Outlander,” “The White Queen,” “Gaslit,” “P-Valley,” “BMF” and the “Power” franchise.
Kathryn Busby, who leads original programming at Starz, praised Bailey’s “strong creative instincts” and her relationships with actors and producers in a statement, Variety reported.
What Bailey’s Departure Means for Starz
Variety framed the exit as part of a shift toward franchises the network owns outright. Starz separated from Lionsgate in May 2025, and Variety said the company has been reviewing its original programming priorities since. Starz offered Bailey a first-look producing deal, which she declined, the trade reported.
What Happens Next
Bailey said she is “excited to see what the next chapter brings.” Starz has not named a successor for her post, and the network continues to develop new “Outlander” projects and other originals. Read more in our coverage of the “Outlander” final season teaser and the spinoff “Blood of My Blood.”
Starz is also in the news for a carriage dispute. See our report on the Starz Fios blackout.
