Netflix and Hulu’s loss is Amazon’s gain. Now that the BBC’s previous North American licensing agreements with Netflix and Hulu Plus have expired, Amazon Prime is set to become the region’s exclusive streaming home of Doctor Who. The online retail giant and BBC Worldwide North America have reached a multi-year deal, according to Variety.
Thanks to the agreement, Doctor Who fans (and those who want to become them) will be able to stream eight seasons of the British sci-fi series for free starting March 27, as long as they are Amazon Prime members. The show’s holiday specials will be among the episodes available, and viewers can look forward to additional seasons being added down the road. Season 9 is set to become available in the fall, and season 10 will follow in 2017.
The long-running series has evolved over time. Although it has always focused on the time-traveling Doctor, the character has frequently regenerated. All in all, he has been played by a dozen different actors since Doctor Who first began airing in 1963, with the role most recently having been filled by Christopher Eccleston (Thor: The Dark World), David Tennant (Jessica Jones), Matt Smith (Terminator Genisys), and Peter Capaldi (World War Z).
No matter the incarnation of the character, though, the Doctor uses his time machine, the TARDIS, to journey through time and space, typically with a human companion. Along the way, he meets a variety of threats and has to team up with others to save the world. The series has gained a cult following over the years, likely making the deal a good one for Amazon.
BBC’s current Doctor Who series comes from creator Sydney Newman (The Avengers), while Russell T. Davies, Julie Gardner, Steven Moffat, Phil Collinson, Piers Wenger, Beth Willis, Brian Minchin, Caroline Skinner, and Mal Young executive produce.