RKMBs Forums .::Robegories::. Media SciFi Channel Passes On New Who

Quote:

---

New Who Series "Lacking"?

Sources close to the US cable network Sci Fi Channel have told IGNFF's Doctor Who Report that the network is not in negotiations for the new series. Postings on the forum for the Doctor Who Restoration Team a couple of weeks ago identified the cable network and its parent company, NBC Universal, as being in negotiations for the new series as well as the complete catalog of classic Doctor Who. The plan, according to the post, was for Sci Fi to have the new series as a first run program with the classic series appearing later either as late night programming on Sci Fi or on one of NBC Universal's other cable channels. NBC Universal owns the cable entertainment networks Bravo, USA Network and Sci Fi Channel in addition to a number of news and information channels.

Unfortunately for fans of Doctor Who it doesn't look like this is the current plan, according to the sources at NBC Universal. In fact, sources tell IGNFF, Sci Fi Channel has already had a chance at the new series and passed after viewing some of the completed episodes. Some of the executives at the network found the series somewhat lacking and didn't think it would fit into the network's schedule, which already has a number of series, mini-series and films in development. Not a good sign for the fans that have been anxiously awaiting the premiere of the series and an announcement of a U.S. carrier.

Still, this may not mean that the media conglomerate is completely out of the picture. NBC Universal also owns a high definition cable channel, Universal HD. Formerly Bravo HD, the recently re-branded cable channel currently runs movies and television programs out of Universal's vault. The revamped Battlestar Galactica is due to be seen on UHD later this year and there is a possibility that the new Doctor Who series could wind up there as the network's first original program. Since the new series is being shot for widescreen digital, it could be a perfect fit that would get the struggling channel some needed publicity from a very loyal fan base. No comment from the programming department at Universal HD but with the good Doctor's new adventures now a scant 25 days away from launching in the UK and Canada, we should hear something soon.

Universal HD is currently seen in just over 1 million homes in the United States and is available on the DirecTV satellite system.

---

Quote:

---

By Adam Pasick

LONDON (Reuters) - The BBC is planning an ambitious distribution strategy that will let viewers watch its TV programs over the Internet, but found out this week that cutting-edge technology can cut both ways.

Especially when time-traveling doctors are involved.

The publicly funded broadcaster was forced into damage control mode when one of its most highly anticipated programs, the first new series of the revered sci-fi drama "Doctor Who" in 16 years, leaked out onto the Internet.

Thousands of fans, unwilling or unable to wait for the scheduled broadcast date in three weeks' time, downloaded the show using the popular file-trading software BitTorrent and other file-trading networks.

"It shows how much demand there is for 'Doctor Who,"' a BBC spokesman said, sounding a positive note. "Years later there is a huge audience desperate for the new series."

The UK downloads more pirated television than any other country, according to a recent study, especially U.S. shows like "24" and "Desperate Housewives" that are broadcast in Britain after a lag of several months.

Analysts estimate that BitTorrent, which is used to download both legitimate and illicit content, accounts for roughly a third of all Internet traffic. BitTorrent is a peer-to-peer network, meaning that users download from each other instead of from a single source.

The BBC's iMP relies on a similar peer-to-peer structure. Unlike BitTorrent, the BBC plans to lock up content sent over iMP so that it can control who uses the service.

The broadcaster had previously said it would limit iMP to those who pay the $230 annual license fee that is levied against all UK television households.

But Director General Mark Thompson said this week that the BBC was considering offering iMP to non-license fee payers for a fee, which would drastically broaden the BBC's global reach without relying on satellite and cable systems for distribution.

"One of the things the teams have been looking at is how to generate money back to the BBC," said a spokesman for BBC Interactive.

"There's nothing concrete at the moment, but we're looking at how we could work it so that if overseas users wanted to see some of these programs, we could generate revenue as part of that."

The BBC has already completed technical tests on iMP and plans to roll it out in a UK trial of about 4,500 householders later this year. An earlier project, the BBC Radio Player, has already proved a success, with listeners tuning in to 4.2 million hours online.

---

Quote:

---

Pig Iron said:
who cares dr who sucks ass..

---

Quote:

---

Batwoman said:
Isn't it out on DVD? Weird, I thought I saw it fairly recently. I could be thinking of something else.

---

Quote:

---

thedoctor said:
New episodes are supposed to air in Britian and Canada later this month.

---

Quote:

---

Steve T said:
The part of the Daily Mail's review that made me laugh though was when they asked how they would approach authority figures, since the programme originated in an age where authority was automatically respected. I wonder which episodes he had been watching since the core of the character was always that he was a maverick, a rebel who followed his own judgement first and foremost.

---

Quote:

---

thedoctor said:

Quote:

---

Batwoman said:
Isn't it out on DVD? Weird, I thought I saw it fairly recently. I could be thinking of something else.

---

Some of the eps. of the original series is out. BBC is relaunching the franchise. New episodes are supposed to air in Britian and Canada later this month.

---

Quote:

---

Prometheus said:
Sci-fi rocks!

Well, I guess most of it does, anyway.

Okay, some of it.

Fine. There are about seven sci-fi concept/shows I would consider premium fiction. Happy?

---