In the end, it doesn't matter the Encore came before, and actually started, Starz. Starz was the name of Encore 8 when the theme channels were launched. That was 1994. In 2016, Starz is the dominant network over Encore, hence Encore now rebranded as Starz Encore instead of Starz being subtitled Encore 8, as it was.
Going back to Comcast Orgre's response to my post, it would make sense that Starz Encore Black and Starz Encore Family get the overhaul over the stronger Starz in Black and Starz Kids and Family.
But, let's be honest. Should Showtime buy Starz, the Encore suite, along with The Movie Channel and Movieplex will probably be shut down, leaving Showtime, Starz (as the Cinemax like B-Network to Showtime's A-Network), and the stand alone Flix as a classic movie channel.