by Thinus Ferreira
As part of the time-warp of the times the British science fiction series Doctor Who is the next TV shows jumping straight to streaming with the total travels of the TARDIS which will whirl from the BBC to Disney+ outside of Britain from 2023.
Following the switch from M-Net (DStv 101) of This is Us, Grey's Anatomy, Station 19 and other shows all moving from premium pay-TV and linear broadcast television to Disney+, the BBC and Disney announced that the complete library and new series of Doctor Who will be switching to Disney+ outside of the United Kingdom as well in 2023 as part of a new partnership contract.
David Tennant will play the 14th Doctor for three upcoming Doctor Who TV specials at the end of the year, before Ncuti Gatwa takes over the role as the 15th Doctor.
In South Africa Doctor Who used to reside on BBC Studios' linear TV channels like BBC Entertainment and BBC Brit for a number of years, after which MultiChoice's video streaming service Showmax acquired a few seasons that were co-incidentally filmed in South Africa while Jodie Whittaker was the Doctor, but it lasted only a short while after which Showmax dropped the series from its catalogue.
South African viewers have been left Doctor Who-less for a number of years with the series which didn't return to the BBC's linear pay-TV channels, but viewers will now be able to catch up and continue the show on Disney+ from next year.
The BBC and Disney Branded Television say they're bringing Doctor Who to Disney+ as they are working together to "transform Doctor Who into a global franchise for UK
audiences and the rest of the world" as part of a new collaboration around the show which is produced in Wales by Bad Wolf with BBC Studios Production.
"I love this show, and this is the best of both
worlds – with the vision and joy of the BBC and Disney+ together we can launch
the TARDIS all around the planet, reaching a new generation of fans while
keeping our traditional home firmly on the BBC in the UK," says Russell T. Davies who is returning to Doctor Who as showrunner in 2023 after he helmed the reboot of the series in 2005.
Charlotte Moore, BBC chief content officer, says "We are thrilled to announce this exciting
global partnership with Disney who are the perfect partners to bring
this very British show to the rest of the world".
"Russell T. Davies' vision
for Doctor Who has always been out of this world and we are committed to
ensuring that audiences across the globe get the opportunity to enjoy the Doctor's
epic adventures with the scale and ambition that they deserve.
"Joining
forces with Disney will elevate the show to even greater heights and reach new
audiences so it's an extremely exciting time for fans in the UK and across the
world."
Alisa Bowen, Disney+ president, in the statement says "We're excited by the opportunity to bring new seasons of this
beloved franchise exclusively to Disney+ and introduce the show to the next
generation of audiences in more than 150 markets around the world."
"The series
is a perfect addition to our ever-growing catalogue of global content that
continues to make Disney+ the home for exceptional storytelling."
Ayo Davis, Disney Branded Television president, says "Doctor
Who has captivated the imaginations of families around the world for the past
six decades. We are so excited about this collaboration with the BBC, and the
opportunity to bring this iconic franchise – and Russell T. Davies' brilliant
vision – to life for a huge new global audience".
Jane Trantor, Bad Wolf executive producer and co-founder, says "For
Doctor Who to have the backing of two of the most innovative and respected
media organisations in the world is a testament to the unique drive and vision
at the heart of this show".
"Bad Wolf are beyond delighted to be once again
working with the genius that is Russell T. Davies and, with the exciting new
partnership between the BBC and Disney, we can together reach to even greater
heights, producing from Wolf Studios Wales ambitious stories through time and
space for audiences across the globe."
