Roots


BBC Four plants Roots with A+E

UK pubcaster the BBC is among the latest to buy A+E Networks’ reworking of the Alex Haley novel of the same name. BBC Four will play the show, which launched at MIPCOM last year and was for History in the US, along with new buyers Numero 23 in France, DBS YES in Israel, Showmax pan-Africa […]

A+E Studios president exiting

Bob DeBitetto is leaving A+E Networks after 14 years with the Disney- and Hearst Corp.-owned broadcast group. A+E CEO Nancy Dubuc revealed the news in an internal memo in which she said that while a channel chief DeBitetto had led the A&E cable network “to an impressive ten-year ratings growth streak” and added he has […]

Roots planted in 50 territories

The remake of epic miniseries Roots has sold into 50 territories. Distributor A+E Networks has closed deals in five continents: Europe, Asia, Australasia and North America. The buyers are SBS in Australia and TVNZ in New Zealand; Thai PBS, D’Live in South Korea, Atresmedia for Spanish linear TV and HBO for SVOD; HBO Europe for […]

10 MIPTV takeaways: #1 No Rising Star, but Roots established

The years when everyone was talking about one show at the MIPTV market are over. MIPTV takeaways: #1 no Rising Star, but Roots established MIPTV takeaways: #2 VR now a reality? MIPTV takeaways: #3 Vivendi puts Europe in the spotlight MIPTV takeaways: #4 eclectic talent on the Croisette MIPTV takeaways: #5 where’s the party?  MIPTV takeaways: #6 the many […]

A+E lays down Roots in Cannes

A+E will give its upcoming drama series Roots its international launch at MIPCOM next week. The period miniseries, about slavery in the US, is a reworking of the iconic 1970s ABC series, which was based on the Alex Haley novel Roots: The Saga of an American Family. The 4x2hrs series, which stars Laurence Fishburne, will […]

Roots, Damien topline A+E slate

A reworking of classic ABC 1970s series Roots and an Omen TV spin-off are the highlights of A+E Networks’ new slate, unveiled in New York yesterday. The new Roots will run across A+E’s A&E, History and Lifetime channels, it said at its Upfront presentation to advertisers. A+E Networks and The Wolper Organization – the company that […]

A+E makes dramatic move with Studios

A+E launched A+E Studios just over a year ago to deliver premium scripted programming to its A&E, History and Lifetime brands, and now the company is taking that content international, its executive VP, Sean Cohan, tells Stewart Clarke. When History moved into scripted programming, it immediately hit its stride – The Bible, Vikings and Hatfields […]

History to update iconic ABC slavery mini Roots

US cable channel History is to remake the iconic ABC American slavery miniseries Roots. The A+E-owned channel has bought the rights from Mark Wolper, son of the original series’ executive producer David L. Wolper, and the book it was based on, Roots: The Saga of an American Family, according to industry blog Deadline, which first […]

CBC, BET adapting African slave novel

Canadian pubcaster CBC and Viacom’s US cable channel BET are to broadcast a miniseries adapted from Lawrence Hill’s controversial novel The Book of Negroes. Conquering Lion Pictures, Out Of Africa Entertainment and indie studio Entertainment One are adapting the book, with production beginning in South Africa in the autumn. Clement Virgo (The Wire) is attached […]