Hulu Secures `Roots’ Streaming Rights

Hulu has acquired the streaming rights to History’s mini-series Roots as part of a new licensing agreement with A+E Networks.

Hulu will stream the four-part series, which aired last month on consecutive days beginning on Memorial Day, beginning this fall, according to Hulu. The series, a revision of the classic 1970s ABC miniseries about the American slavery experience as told through the multi-generational journey of one family, was viewed by 14.4 million total linear viewers across all premiere week telecasts, said A+E Networks.

The deal also includes SVOD rights to History’s Barbarians Rising and Lifetime’s War and Peace, said Hulu.

“We’re so proud to welcome such a culturally important and highly-rated series as Roots to Hulu,” said Craig Erwich, SVP, Head of Content, Hulu. “With acclaimed titles like War and Peace and Barbarians Rising, our expanded deal with A+E Networks furthers our strategy of offering the very best in premium, exclusive television to Hulu subscribers.”

R. Thomas Umstead

R. Thomas Umstead serves as senior content producer, programming for Multichannel News, Broadcasting + Cable and Next TV. During his more than 30-year career as a print and online journalist, Umstead has written articles on a variety of subjects ranging from TV technology, marketing and sports production to content distribution and development. He has provided expert commentary on television issues and trends for such TV, print, radio and streaming outlets as Fox News, CNBC, the Today show, USA Today, The New York Times and National Public Radio. Umstead has also filmed, produced and edited more than 100 original video interviews, profiles and news reports featuring key cable television executives as well as entertainers and celebrity personalities.