Starz To Close Vongo Movie Download Site

August 13, 2008 8:20 a.m. EST

Los Angeles, CA (AHN) - Premium TV service Starz said Tuesday that it will pull the plug on its Internet movie download service Vongo at the end of September. Starz is directing its customers to use Verizon's $5.99 per month Starz Play service.

Vongo, owned by Liberty Media Corp., was launched in 2006. It offered online viewing of 2,000 movies for $9.99 per month.

Starz said it will seek other partners, such as Verizon, who can bundle the Vongo service along with their products.

Vongo Tuesday told subscribers it stopped accepting new customers Aug. 1 and will cease operation Sept. 30.