The Day of The Doctor: a global broadcastBookmark and Share

Tuesday, 1 October 2013 - Reported by Chuck Foster
The Day of the Doctor - Promotional Poster (portrait) (Credit: BBC/Adrian Rogers)Back in July BBC Worldwide announced its intention to take the broadcast of the 50th Anniversary special, The Day of The Doctor, worldwide. Tonight, it was announced that so far some 75 countries have signed up to make the broadcast a global phenomenon, which as well as the USA (BBC America), Canada (SPACE) and Australia (ABC), also includes places in Europe that currently show the series, such as Germany (FOX) and Finland (YLE), and worldwide through the BBC Entertainment channel. Other networks are expected to be announced in due course.

In addition, over 200 cinemas around the United Kingdom are set to simulcast the episode, many of which will broadcast the adventure in 3D - which will also be available for compatible television sets through the BBC's HD Red Button service.

Tim Davie, chief executive of BBC Worldwide, said:
Few TV shows can still lay claim to being appointment viewing but Doctor Who takes this to another level. In its 50th anniversary year, we wanted to create a truly international event for Doctor Who fans in as many countries as possible and the simultaneous broadcast and cinema screening of the special across so many countries will make for a fitting birthday tribute to our Time Lord.

Brendan Dahill, Controller ABC1 said:
ABC1 is thrilled to be part of this momentous global television event, celebrating 50 years of everyone’s favourite Time Lord.

Writer and executive producer Steven Moffat said:
The Doctor has always been a time traveller – now he’s travelling time zones. On November 23, it won’t be the bad guys conquering the Earth - everywhere, it will be the Day of the Doctor.



Though the premiere date of 23rd November is embedded in every Doctor Who fan's mind, the actual time of broadcast has yet to be confirmed; however, ABC have announced that their prime-time repeat broadcast of The Day of The Doctor will be on the Sunday at 7:30pm AEDT. Meanwhile, PRIME in New Zealand have reported that they will show the episode within 24 hours of its broadcast in the UK (the episode's usual PG censor rating means it unfortunately cannot be shown on the terrestrial channel in the early morning).





FILTER: - Steven Moffat - Season Specials - International Broadcasting - WHO50 - Press