Doctor Who, Does Three Seasons Mean a US Showing?
With the recent announcement that Doctor Who has at least two more seasons ahead of it, the question of a US showing has re-emerged. The BBC has signed deals to have the new series of Doctor Who shown in countries all over the world, but the single biggest market, the US tv market, remains resistant to the shows charms apparently.
One of the problems in selling Doctor Who to a US cable channel (lets just rule out the networks straight off) is how few episodes there actually were. The magic number for syndication where they strip the shows daily is 100 episodes. However since this series of Doctor Who has never been seen in the US it can be presented as original programming at a weekly rate. Even so 13 episodes was a very slim amount to offer a cable channel.
However, with the announcement of a third season of Doctor Who and two Christmas specials, that takes the episode count up to 41 which is certainly plenty for most cable channels to work with. Though of course about 28 of those episodes haven’t actually been shot yet. Still if they were to use the common cable channel practice of split seasons in the winter and summer, they could schedule Doctor Who for the next year.
Other problems have been raised but they all strike me as easily surmountable. Doctor Who is shot on video, not film. That might be a big deal for a network channel, I don’t think its that big a deal for a cable channel. Doctor Who is too British. Again that’s a problem for a network, but there are plenty of cable channels showing heavy doses of British programming, so that’s just an excuse. The BBC is asking for too much money. Well they might well be, I don’t know how much they’re asking. But if that’s the case, eventually they’ll ask for less.
I think its really just a question of when we see Doctor Who on US tv, not when. At this stage I certainly don’t see the networks getting involved, and I’m inclined to rule out the top tier cable channels. I can see the SciFi Channel becoming interested again, and I also see BBC America as a credible home for it.
While those options might upset some people who want to see Doctor Who take over the world, the simple fact is that even a minor cable channel will give Doctor Who more exposure in the US than it currently has. Look what it did for The Office.
Eoghann Irving is amongst other things the creator and Editor of Solar Flare. He has a life long interest in all forms of science fiction and fantasy and a pressing need to share this interest with anyone who will listen. Find out more at his personal website eoghann.com..
3 Comments, Comment or Ping
Jeff Moore
When I heard that a 3rd season had been green lighted before the second had even begun (or the first concluded)… my very first thought is, “They’re throwing an American Cable network a bone… someone is nibbling but needs a guarantee of more episodes.” Why else announce a 3rd? There was no need… no reason. Not when one full season had yet to aire. No one jumps ahead like that, ever… so there has to be something to gain. I think an announcement of an American broadcast of Doctor Who is closer than you think.
Jun 26th, 2005
Just Me
If this is the case of American Cable holding out for more shows, then I say let them hold out for a 5th season or more
Aug 16th, 2005
Troy Franklin
I like to see this new Doctor Who. Why don’t you get it on the Scifi channel.
If not the BBC America
Dec 12th, 2005
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