this post was submitted on 26 Jun 2024
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BBC defends Doctor Who ratings as show is "top drama for under-35s this year" (www.radiotimes.com)
submitted 5 months ago by Emperor@feddit.uk to c/britishtelly@feddit.uk
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While the future of Doctor Who is already confirmed in the short term - with the show returning for a Christmas special this year and another season next year - beyond that, things are currently less certain.

This is because the show's fate in its current form rests with Disney Plus, who the BBC did a deal with for the new era.

Not only does Disney distribute the series internationally, it also helps to finance it, meaning that while the show could continue without the streamer, its budget may have to be slashed.

The question of the show's future following what have been described as season 14's "underwhelming" ratings was raised in a recent article in The Times, and now the BBC has weighed in.

A BBC spokeswoman told the publication: "Overnight ratings no longer provide an accurate picture of all those who watch drama in an on-demand world.

"This season of Doctor Who premiered on iPlayer nearly 24 hours before broadcast, and episode 1 has already been viewed by nearly 6 million viewers and continues to grow.

"Doctor Who remains one of the most-watched programmes on iPlayer and is the BBC’s top drama for under-35s this year, making it one of the biggest programmes for the demographic across all streamers and broadcasters."

...

Hopefully these assurances will calm fans' nerves about the show's future. It certainly appears that Davies seems hopeful, as he has already started writing season 16.

The writer has also confirmed that "there are offices that exist" that are dedicated solely to planning potential spin-offs, although what these would be focused on is currently unclear.

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[–] Hossenfeffer@feddit.uk 10 points 5 months ago (1 children)

I watched Dr. Who from Pertwee onwards. Even the bland Peter Davidson, pointless Colin Baker, and awful Sylverster McCoy. But I've really struggled with the current series. Not because of the performances of the leads but because the stories just make no sense to me (and that's saying something).

[–] Emperor@feddit.uk 4 points 5 months ago (2 children)

The season has been a rollercoaster for me - 1st episode was abysmal, the 2nd was fantastic. Quite a few of the episodes where enjoyable whilst watching them but the more you thought about them the stupider they got (that 73 Yards one, for example). Such ups and downs are pretty much standard RTD as far as I'm concerned. The disappointment was that the Moffet episode wasn't that great and he was usually reliable.

[–] Hossenfeffer@feddit.uk 3 points 5 months ago

the more you thought about them the stupider they got

Yup, that perfectly describes my experience!

[–] BeardedGingerWonder@feddit.uk 2 points 5 months ago

I feel like some part of that episode hasn't been fully explained yet >!there was a reference in the finale for sure!<

I've quite enjoyed this season for the most part. Episodes have built a bit more tension/actually got me excited. Hope Ruby makes a largely permanent return in the future too.

What I will say is the episode conclusions have been a bit anticlimactic - builds well and then fizzles a bit, but on the whole I'm enjoying the return of RTD. I think 13 off episodes is a better length for the series too though, allows for a few more monster of the week episodes and a few more clues seeded through the series.

[–] MajorHavoc@programming.dev 7 points 5 months ago* (last edited 5 months ago) (2 children)

Oh, hey. I take it that season 14 is on Disney+? Neat.

No sarcasm, but as a diehard fan (who learned to wait because Doctor Who never reaches my country on time) - I imagine my (and fans like me) just learning this, now, might have something to do with the ratings...

It sucks that season 14 and Disney+ is suffering for past publishing bullshit.

[–] TauriWarrior@aussie.zone 1 points 5 months ago

I've only heard that the new season is crap, i have a co-worker that watched it and told me about what happens in the new season and it leaves me with no desire to watch it

[–] graff@lemm.ee 1 points 5 months ago (1 children)

It's available right away on D+ worldwide except the UK

[–] MajorHavoc@programming.dev 2 points 5 months ago

Yeah. That's a big improvement from when the Christmas and New Year's Day specials released on "the Americans probably celebrate a few days later, don't worry about it".

[–] apotheotic 2 points 5 months ago (1 children)

I'm sure that the anti-trans (and anti-lgbtq+ for that matter) rhetoric currently spewing across the US and much of Europe has nothing to do with the poor ratings

[–] Emperor@feddit.uk 3 points 5 months ago (1 children)

Ratings here refers to the viewer numbers not whether some terrible people have been review-bombing Rotten Tomatoes.

[–] apotheotic 1 points 5 months ago

I'm aware, that's why I used the word, because it was the one that I meant - I have no doubt that there are people "boycotting" the show (ie, lowering the viewer count) as some sort of protest against the woke mind virus. Or I suppose, just not watching it because they can't stomach watching it because of the woke mind virus taking hold.