CBS looking to buy Starz from Lionsgate

CBS is looking to buy Lionsgate’s cable TV channel Starz, an informed source told The Post.

CBS is said to only be interested in Starz and not Lionsgate, which also owns a movie studio. The source noted that CBS is looking at Starz as a potential complement to an acquisition of Viacom, the owner of MTV, Comedy Central and Nickelodeon.

The board of CBS is mulling whether to merge with Viacom. Both companies are controlled by the Redstone family’s holding company, National Amusements.

According to a source close to Starz, this is the second time CBS has pursued the network. The first time was when Lionsgate bought Starz for $4.4 billion in 2016.

Media watchers have buzzed that a merger of the two firms is expected in the next year. CBS and Lionsgate declined to comment.

An insider told The Post that CBS could benefit from buying Starz as it would expand its premium content play, which currently includes Showtime, maker of “Billions,” “Shameless” and “Homeland.”

An acquisition of Starz also would expand CBS’ “international footprint,” the source said, adding that most of Showtime’s content has been licensed globally to distributors like Netflix, and much of Starz’s content has not been licensed.

That could bring a new stream of revenue to CBS coffers, the source noted.

An informed source said Friday that the talks are ongoing, although they could still fall apart.

News of the talks, which was first reported by The Information, sent shares of Lionsgate up nearly 15 percent to $15.61 on Friday. Shares of CBS were flat, closing at $48.38.

According to the report, CBS offered Lionsgate about $5 billion for the network, which is best known for shows like “Power,” “Highlander” and “The White Queen.”

Lionsgate is said to have turned down the offer.