One of the most critically acclaimed network series of all time, NBC’s “Homicide: Life on the Street,” is finally making its way to streaming. The Universal Television series and its follow-up telepic, “Homicide: The Movie,” are set to premiere in the U.S. on Peacock, starting August 19. The series and TV movie have been remastered to high definition and 4K for the first time.
The question of why “Homicide” hadn’t made its way to streaming picked up steam last year after the death in December of star Andre Braugher, who portrayed Detective Frank Pembleton on the police drama series.
At the time, “Homicide: Life on the Street” writer and producer David Simon — whose book “Homicide: A Year on the Killing Streets” was the framework for the show revealed in an X/Twitter post that the series may be heading to streaming services.
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“I have been informed by a reliable source that NBC/Universal is at last attempting, along with Fremantle on the overseas rights, to clear music rights on #Homicide for eventual streaming. Lot of work to do achieve that, however, I am also told,” Simon wrote. “Andre alone ought to rate such.”
It took some time to hammer out the music rights, but in June, Simon offered up an update, foreshadowing this announcement: “Word is that NBC has managed to finally secure the music rights necessary to sell ‘Homicide: Life On The Streets’ to a streaming platform,” he wrote in June on X/Twitter. “Andre, Richard, Yaphet, Ned and so many others who labored on that wonderful show on both sides of the camera will soon regain a full share of their legacy.”
Simon was referring to cast members Braugher, Richard Belzer, Yaphet Kotto and Ned Beatty, who starred in the seven-season series along with Melissa Leo, Giancarlo Esposito, Daniel Baldwin, Jon Polito, Clark Johnson, Kyle Secor, Reed Diamond, Michelle Forbes, Peter Gerety, Isabella Hofmann, Toni Lewis, Michael Michele, Max Perlich, Jon Seda and Callie Thorn.
What took so long to get the deal done? As Simon also elaborated on social media, “In the case of ‘Homicide,’ the rights were negotiated long ago before streaming existed as a viewing platform. A fair compensation for the new use needed to be negotiated.”
“Homicide” produced 122 episodes, debuting on NBC in 1993, as well as the 2000 movie. Paul Attanasio created the series, based on Simon’s book, while Tom Fontana was the series head writer and showrunner, and served as exec producer along with Barry Levinson, Henry Bromell and Jim Finnerty. Producers included Simon, Gail Mutrux, Julie Martin, James Yoshimura, Jorge Zamacona and Anya Epstein.
As described by Universal, the series “examines the calculating and exacting detective work of the often confrontational, passionate, and opinionated homicide department in Baltimore. With a determined cast of characters that never let up in their quest for truth and justice, this gripping hourlong series remains the standard bearer of how police handle the job both professionally and personally.”
Never a ratings hit, “Homicide” was a critical smash for NBC, and for that reason managed to keep going for as long as it did. The show won four Primetime Emmy Awards, including a 1998 best actor win for Braugher and victories in writing (Fontana) and directing (Levinson) categories in 1993. It also scored Peabody Awards (in 1993, 1995 and 1997) — the first drama ever to win that many. It also received noms and wins from the Television Critics Association, Directors Guild of America, NAACP and Writers Guild of America, among others.
“Homicide” is distributed by NBCUniversal Global TV Distribution in the U.S. and by Fremantle internationally.
