No more Dr Who "classic" broadcasts in the US!

[CalliArcale]

The BBC has announced that it will not be renewing any of the current syndication deals with various American PBS stations to run "classic" episodes of Doctor Who. This is to make sure everything is clear while they shop the new series around to various American broadcasters. (Presumably after such a sale, they will be willing to resume syndication of the first 26 seasons, although they seem to be avoiding making a commitment that way.)<br /><br />This is because the BBC does not consider the PBS affiliates to have sufficient bargaining power against the major networks (broadcast and cable).<br /><br />Interestingly, this suggests that the rumors of a sale to the Sci-Fi Channel may be premature. The BBC announcement hints that several major American broadcasters are interested in the new series. With luck, a big announcement may be on its way. <img src="/images/icons/wink.gif" /><br /><br />Quoted from Outpost Gallifrey, here is the text of the BBC's announcement:<br /><br /><i>Unfortunately, we won't be able to proceed with a renewal of Doctor Who at this time. The new series of Doctor Who is currently being shopped around to various commercial broadcasters. For this reason, we have been asked not to make any syndication agreements on this title until further notice. I'm sorry if this has caused you inconvenience. Our sales department has been under strong pressure to get this new, glossy series highly placed. Unfortunately, this was a commercial strategy decision,and we do not have enough of an existing PBS user base to bid against cable or the commercial giants, some of which are taking the new series in consideration. Thank you for understanding.</i> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p> </p><p><font color="#666699"><em>"People assume that time is a strict progression of cause to effect, but actually from a non-linear, non-subjective viewpoint it's more like a big ball of wibbly wobbly . . . timey wimey . . . stuff."</em>  -- The Tenth Doctor, "Blink"</font></p> </div>

 

[Leovinus]

I'm glad I have a bunch of old ones on tape. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[mattblack]

Typical Beeb, shooting themselves in the foot again. They should at least have a package of episodes showcasing each Doctor so that the many Americans who have still never seen Doctor Who can have a chance to. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p> </p><p>One Percent of Federal Funding For Space: America <strong><em><u>CAN</u></em></strong> Afford it!!  LEO is a <strong><em>Prison</em></strong> -- It's time for a <em><strong>JAILBREAK</strong></em>!!</p> </div>

 

[dannydare]

DO . NOT . STUFF UP . THE . DOC . TOR . OR . YOU . WILL BE . EXTERMINATED !

 

[JonClarke]

Rather OT, here in Oz they are rebraodcasting "The Deadly Assasin" I had forgotten how good and original it is. Some of its interesting features.<br /><br />The doctor without the assistance or hinderance of a companion,<br /><br />A ruthless struggle for survival in which we see the side of the doctor we don't usually see.<br /><br />The wonderfully stuffy timelords.<br /><br />The combat inside The Matrix - you can't tell me this was not borrowed a few years later by another film.<br /><br />The horrifically skeletal master.<br /><br />Jon <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><em>Whether we become a multi-planet species with unlimited horizons, or are forever confined to Earth will be decided in the twenty-first century amid the vast plains, rugged canyons and lofty mountains of Mars</em>  Arthur Clarke</p> </div>

 

[CalliArcale]

That's one of my all-time favorites, and its' the one I normally use to introduce newcomers to the series. But did you know that it provoked major disagreements among fans when it was first released? Some fans loved it, many hated it, because it introduced so many new things (including the fact that a Time Lord does in fact have a finite lifespan; they are not truly immortal, and can only regenerate 12 times) and because it prodded at the mystery of the Doctor.<br /><br />I loved it, though. The Time Lord culture presented in that story and then elaborated in "The Invasion of Time" is utterly fascinating to me. And I love the costumes. <img src="/images/icons/wink.gif" /> They were designed by multiple-Oscar-winnner James Acheson, and they're great examples of his work. Magnificent. And it's a good whodunit. I always like those, and Dr Who had some very nice ones in its time. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p> </p><p><font color="#666699"><em>"People assume that time is a strict progression of cause to effect, but actually from a non-linear, non-subjective viewpoint it's more like a big ball of wibbly wobbly . . . timey wimey . . . stuff."</em>  -- The Tenth Doctor, "Blink"</font></p> </div>

 

[mattblack]

Other Baker stories I quite liked were "The Hand Of Fear" and Tom Baker's final one "Logopolis" where his performance was terrific. You could see Baker's fragile temper and emotions at leaving Doctor Who near the surface in that one. How do I know? He told me himself!! <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p> </p><p>One Percent of Federal Funding For Space: America <strong><em><u>CAN</u></em></strong> Afford it!!  LEO is a <strong><em>Prison</em></strong> -- It's time for a <em><strong>JAILBREAK</strong></em>!!</p> </div>

 

[JonClarke]

Yes, I love the time lord culture, the eleection of a new president an the same kind of pompous formality of the election of a professor to a chair at a conservative university. there were also echos of the papacy, with the use of the title of cardinal. <br /><br />There were some wonderful lines about the time lords giving up the fad of technology several 1000 years before.<br /><br />I think it's The Face of Evil next - here comes Leela!!!<br /><br />Jon <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><em>Whether we become a multi-planet species with unlimited horizons, or are forever confined to Earth will be decided in the twenty-first century amid the vast plains, rugged canyons and lofty mountains of Mars</em>  Arthur Clarke</p> </div>

 

[CalliArcale]

It's interesting that they chose the term "cardinal" because there's nothing religious at all about the Time Lords. If you believe the New Adventures novel "Lungbarrow", in fact, they are adamantly atheistic and actually deliberatly tossed out all religion on Gallifrey back in the time of Rassilon.<br /><br />The structure of Time Lord society displayed in "The Deadly Assassin" was consciously based on the academic hierarchy found at many of the really old universities. So if it seems like the election of a new chair at a university, there's a good reason for that. <img src="/images/icons/wink.gif" /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p> </p><p><font color="#666699"><em>"People assume that time is a strict progression of cause to effect, but actually from a non-linear, non-subjective viewpoint it's more like a big ball of wibbly wobbly . . . timey wimey . . . stuff."</em>  -- The Tenth Doctor, "Blink"</font></p> </div>

 

[vogon13]

Iowa PBS currently running Earthshock. Think Adric is gonna die again. He always does (seen this one several times). Adric probably could have been rescued if only some caring individual with access to a time machine could have bothered to do so. Don't mind the Beeb updating the franchise, but it seems a little drastic to disrupt decades old programming shcedules on IPTV.<br /><br /><br /><br />Consider mine enemies; for they are many; and they hate me with cruel hatred.<br />David <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#ff0000"><strong>TPTB went to Dallas and all I got was Plucked !!</strong></font></p><p><font color="#339966"><strong>So many people, so few recipes !!</strong></font></p><p><font color="#0000ff"><strong>Let's clean up this stinkhole !!</strong></font> </p> </div>

 

[JonClarke]

You'll see! <img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" /><br /><br />Jon <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><em>Whether we become a multi-planet species with unlimited horizons, or are forever confined to Earth will be decided in the twenty-first century amid the vast plains, rugged canyons and lofty mountains of Mars</em>  Arthur Clarke</p> </div>