HISTORY”s “Roots” remake is a *hot* property after an incredibly successful initial run on the network a few weeks ago, drawing over 50 million viewers (and counting).

I imagine exclusive streaming rights weren’t exactly cheap. But that’s what Hulu has acquired, the streaming platform announced today. I wonder if Netflix and Amazon were bidding on rights as well…




The entire remade/reimagined series will stream exclusively on Hulu… but starting this fall; not immediately, unfortunately, which I’m sure some of you would’ve liked.

Based on Alex Haley’s 1976 novel ‘Roots: The Saga of an American Family,’ the A&E Networks 8-hour miniseries recounts the journey of a family through the age of American slavery. It’s also a remake of a classic 1977 miniseries of the same name.

The acquisition deal also includes streaming rights to Lifetime’s “War and Peace,” which will begin streaming on Hulu this summer, as well as History’s docu-drama “Barbarians Rising,” which sill arrive in 2017 (recall my piece which focused on an episode of “Barbarians Rising” that told Hannibal Barca’s story).

“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.”

For those who can’t wait until the fall, the “Roots” remake will be out on Blu-Ray and DVD in August. Preorder your copy on Amazon here.