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Hulu Inks Deal for Streaming Rights to History’s Epic Event Series ROOTS
June 14, 2016
New Licensing Agreement with A+E Networks Includes Exclusive Streaming Video On-Demand Rights to Premium Programming from Lifetime and HISTORY
SANTA MONICA, CA (June 14, 2016) – Following the record-breaking Memorial Day premiere of HISTORY’s event series ROOTS, Hulu has acquired the exclusive subscription streaming rights to all episodes of the critically acclaimed series. The new deal with A+E Networks and Chute Ten Productions will make the entire series available to stream exclusively on Hulu this fall. The deal also expands upon Hulu’s relationship with A+E Networks. Just last year, Hulu acquired the exclusive streaming rights to Lifetime’s Peabody award-winning and recently renewed drama series UnReal.
“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.”
“A+E Networks is thrilled to partner with Hulu to offer their subscribers such a strong slate of programming,” said Sean Cohan, President, International and Digital Media, A+E Networks. “Hulu continues to thrive and innovate in the SVOD marketplace and is the perfect platform to showcase A+E’s premium video content.”
The premiere of A+E Networks’ four-night event, ROOTS, was watched by 14.4 million total linear viewers over the course of all premiere week telecasts. The entire series has so far reached 50.6 million viewers across all linear telecasts during the week ending June 5, based on the most current Nielsen data. All episodes of the eight-hour event series developed for HISTORY by A+E Studios, will become available to stream exclusively to Hulu subscribers this fall.
ROOTS is a historical portrait of American slavery recounting the journey of one family and their will to survive and ultimately carry on their legacy despite hardship. The stellar cast includes Academy Award® winners Forest Whitaker and Anna Paquin; Academy Award® nominee and Emmy Award® winner Laurence Fishburne; Golden Globe Award® winning and Emmy Award® nominated actor Jonathan Rhys Meyers; Tony Award® winner Anika Noni Rose; Grammy Award® winner Tip “T.I.” Harris; Chad L. Coleman; Emayatzy Corinealdi; Matthew Goode; Derek Luke; Mekhi Phifer; James Purefoy; Erica Tazel and introduces Regé-Jean Page and Malachi Kirby. The series is an A+E Studios production in association with Marc Toberoff and The Wolper Organization, the company that produced the original “Roots.” Will Packer, Marc Toberoff, Mark Wolper, Lawrence Konner, Mark Rosenthal and Barry Jossen serve as executive producers. LeVar Burton and Korin D. Huggins are co-executive producers. Questlove is executive music producer. ROOTS is directed by Phillip Noyce, Mario Van Peebles, Thomas Carter and Bruce Beresford.
Barbarians Rising, which premiered on HISTORY on June 6, will also become available to stream exclusively on Hulu beginning in 2017 through the new deal with A+E Networks. The eight-part/ four-week docu-drama tells the story of the rise and fall of the Roman Empire from the perspective of the barbarian leaders who brought it down; a high-impact, visceral journey into the heart of their rebellions against absolute power. Featuring fully dramatized portrayals of barbarian icons including Hannibal, Spartacus, Arminius, Boudica and Attila, and an eclectic group of experts and contributors to reveal the true history behind the legends. Barbarians Rising is produced for HISTORY by October Films. Adam Bullmore is executive producer, Simon George (HISTORY’s “World War II From Space”) is executive director, and Michael Waterhouse (HISTORY’s “The Bible”) is series producer for October Films. Executive producers for HISTORY are Kristen Burns and Russ McCarroll.
The deal also includes the exclusive SVOD acquisition of Lifetime’s War and Peace, which will become available to stream on Hulu this summer.
ABOUT HULU
Hulu is a premium streaming TV destination that offers hundreds of thousands of hours of the best of current season programming, premium original content, films and full seasons of hit series to subscribers with limited commercials for $7.99 per month or commercial free for $11.99 per month. Hulu is the only streaming subscription service that offers current season content from 5 of the 6 largest U.S. broadcast networks, as well as acclaimed Hulu Originals including The Mindy Project, The Path, 11.22.63, Difficult People and the Golden Globe® nominated comedy series, Casual. Since its launch in 2008, Hulu has been at the forefront of entertainment and technology and continues to redefine TV by connecting viewers with the stories they love.
ABOUT A+E NETWORKS
A+E Networks®, LLC.is an award-winning, global media content company of fering consumers a diverse communications environment ranging from television networks to websites, gaming, watch apps and educational software. A+E Networks is comprised of A&E®, Lifetime®, History®, LMN®, FYITM, VICELAND, H2TM, A+E StudiosTM, History en EspaňolTM, Crime + InvestigationTM, Military HistoryTM, Lifetime Real Women®, A&E IndieFilms®, A+E Networks International®, A+E Networks Digital® and A+E Networks Consumer ProductsTM. A+E Networks’ channels and branded programming reach more than 335 million households in over 200 territories. A+E Networks, LLC. is a joint venture of Disney-ABC Television Group and Hearst Corporation.
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Media Contacts:
Alexandra Finegersh
Hulu Communications
424-273-8130
Vicky Kahn
A+E Networks
212-210-9743
Mead Rust
A+E Networks
212-551-1534
