The Tom Baker Years on Sci Fi in Australia

Sunday, 17 July 2011 - Reported by Harry Ward

The Australian Sci Fi Channel is to air Doctor Who episodes from the Tom Baker era, starting with his first story, Robot on 17 August.

In 1974 an unknown actor called Tom Baker was cast in the lead role of Doctor Who, and turned an already popular show into a phenomenon. For a generation, the Fourth Doctor is the definite article– warm, witty, clever and sometimes very strange indeed. Clad in his trademark overlong scarf and with a bag of jelly babies to hand, he strode confidently through some of the show’s most memorable adventures. Over seven exciting years this Doctor met old adversaries - like the Daleks, Cybermen and Sontarans –with some help from much-loved friends like Sarah Jane Smith, Leela, Romana and the faithful K-9.

If you’re a fan of the incredible new series of Doctor Who, then this is a great chance to check out where the legend began. If you saw it back in the day then you won’t need reminding what awesome fun it was to go travelling with the Fourth Doctor every weeknight. Get on board the TARDIS and have yourself some all-time classic adventures in time and space with Doctor Who: The Tom Baker Years – only on SCI FI!

Schedule for Robot
Wednesday, August 17
06:30-06:55 - Episode 1
06:55-07:20 - Episode 2

Thursday, August 18
06:30-06:55 - Episode 3
06:55-07:20 - Episode 4
(times are shown in AEST)

A full schedule for the rest of Season 12, including repeats can be found here.
(with thanks to Matthew See)

FILTER: - Tom Baker - Classic Series - Broadcasting - Australia

UK Classic DVD update: The Sun Makers

Friday, 8 July 2011 - Reported by Chuck Foster

2|Entertain have now released details on next month's DVD release, The Sun Makers; this story marks the completion of Season 15 on DVD, the penultimate adventure under producership of Graham Williams, and brings the remaining list of Fourth Doctor adventures still to be released down to four (five if the incomplete Shada is included).

The Sun Makers
Release Date: 1st August 2011 (available for pre-order)

Starring Tom Baker as Doctor Who, with Louise Jameson as Leela
Written by Robert Holmes
Directed by Pennant Roberts

Broadcast: 26th November 1977 - 17th December 1977

Far in the distant future, Earth has become uninhabitable, forcing mankind to colonise first Mars, and then Pluto...

No longer the coldest planet in the Solar System, Pluto is now warmed by a series of artificial suns. But access to the sunlight is limited to a select few... The majority of the citizens of the vast Megropolis cities are being overworked and overtaxed by the ruling elite, led by the Gatherer, and the sinister Collector.

When the Doctor, Leela and K9 arrive they discover that all is not well on Pluto. The human population is being totally exploited, while deep in the Undercity, a small band of rebels seeks to overthrow the mysterious 'Company' that controls all aspects of everyday life.

As the situation gets more desperate, the Doctor is forced to fight the oppression of the evil corporate rulers of Pluto. And their taxes...!

Special Features

Commentary with actors Tom Baker, Louise Jameson and Michael Keating, director Pennant Roberts.
Running from the Tax Man – a retrospective look at the making of the story and the science behind it. With actors Louise Jameson and Michael Keating, director Pennant Roberts, writer and historian Dominic Sandbrook and astronomer Marek Kukula.
Outtakes
Trailer – the original BBC1 trailer for the story.
The Doctor’s Composer – Part Two – the concluding part of the series looking at the career of prolific composer Dudley Simpson, covering his work on the show in the seventies.
Photo Gallery – production, design and publicity photos from the story.
Coming Soon – a trailer for a forthcoming DVD release.
Radio Times Listings in Adobe PDF format.
Programme subtitles
Subtitle Production Notes

Meanwhile, the Classic Doctor Who team have continued to keep readers appraised with the developments on future releases over Twitter (summary over the last month detailed below). Amongst the tidbits are the completion of Revisitations 3 - due to be released next year, and that while Elisabeth Sladen sadly hadn't recorded any further commentaries, Nicholas Courtney will feature on The Ambassadors of Death, and Barry Letts on The Mind of Evil.

05 Jun Mark Ayres: 4 seconds missing from VHS & US tx masters returned to @classicdw
Colony in Space for DVD. Restores 2 lines of dialogue.
06 Jun ClassicDW: Cracking doc on THE DAEMONS from Chris Chapman signed off.
Sue Hedden worth the price of DVD alone. What a great character!
06 Jun Mark Ayres: Colony in Space - restored soundtracks and mixed commentaries for
@classicdw DVD release done and delivered via ftp.
08 Jun ClassicDW: Enjoyable doc from James Goss signed off.
First in a series, and featuring Louise Jameson.
08 Jun Ed Stradling: Happiness Patrol making-of being heavily cut down today. Some of cut
material may be uploaded by @classicdw on youtube if you ask him nicely
08 Jun ClassicDW: Many have asked whether there are any unreleased commentaries featuring
N Courtney, L Sladen or B Letts.
08 Jun ClassicDW: Sadly there are none unreleased Elisabeth comms.
Nick appears on AMBASSADORS OF DEATH, and Barry on MIND OF EVIL.
08 Jun Ed Stradling: @classicdw worth RTing that Barry will also appear in vision discussing all
of his serials except 'Death to the Daleks', and other features
08 Jun ClassicDW: Final PARADISE TOWERS sleeves approved and off to the printers!
09 Jun Mark Ayres: Much of the week so far spent working on @classicdw @Thetamation @bigfinish
Reign of Terror. Now: a day-trip to Svartos.
12 Jun Ed Stradling: I am crap at deciding programme titles. I have "Studio Svartos" for the
Dragonfire making-of. Can any #doctorwho fans think of a better one?
13 Jun Ed Stradling: @Xander, @Babelcolour and @NicholasPegg "Fire and Ice" is now the title
of the Dragonfire doc.
14 Jun Ed Stradling: Shooting with Shaun Ley for a feature on the Happiness Patrol DVD
@classicdw http://t.co/4HWOQ0A
15 Jun ClassicDW: REVISITATIONS 3 completed! Sterling work from the team. Looking at release
first half 2012. VidFIRED TOMB looking great. :)
16 Jun Ed Stradling: Very very busy on graphics and title bumpers for DW Happiness Patrol.
17 Jun James Loosemore: Just finishing off the final mixes of my arrangement of the
Doctor Who Theme for @classicdw
18 Jun Chris Chapman: Seems like my next @classicdw shoot will be in late July - all
outdoors on location, always a bonus!
21 Jun Chris Chapman: Have a feeling that our Reign of Terror @classicdw doco could be
one of the best topics we've tackled - now just need a bit of good luck!
22 Jun Ed Stradling: krotons already commissioned for a making-of. Not sure about ice warrs.
23 Jun Ed Stradling: Dragonfire DVD doc finished and playing out to tape.
24 Jun Mark Ayres: Mastered audio for @classicdw Dragonfire and The Happiness Patrol DVDs
all complete and delivered.
25 Jun ClassicDW: Changes made to the VAM packages for KROTONS and PLANET OF GIANTS
following suggestions from @edstradling. Should be good! :)
26 Jun ClassicDW: Some lovely First Doctor character tests through from @thetamation
for REIGN OF TERROR.
27 Jun ClassicDW: Signed off menus for DAY OF THE DALEKS - Special Edition DVD.
27 Jun ClassicDW: Signed off cracking promo for ACE BOX featuring DRAGONFIRE and HAPPINESS PATROL.
New graphics in there, marvellously "Breakdance"!
28 Jun Chris Chapman: Opening animation for my @classicdw Death to the Daleks doco shaping up
nicely! Nice and moody...
28 Jun Mark Ayres: It's very hot in the studio today.
I put it down to unstable matter interfaces. Nightmare!
29 Jun Ed Stradling: Up bright and early for some GV shots! @classicdw http://t.co/BhbzhzV
01 Jul Chris Chapman: Our @classicdw Death to the Daleks doco is into the home stretch -
running at around 27mins at present. Feels like a good one!
01 Jul Chris Chapman: Quotes from @classicdw Death to the Daleks doco include:
"I think Terry Nation was taking the mickey!"
06 Jul Mark Ayres: Given that I have aleady restored this @classicdw title for audiobook,
DVD mastering should be easy...
07 Jul Chris Chapman: @0tralala I've done what you asked for! The Death to the Daleks Target book
is in the @classicdw DVD doco - ARE YOU HAPPY NOW?? :-)
07 Jul Chris Chapman: I'm taking requests (caveat: which I can totally ignore) for things YOU
want to see in the @classicdw GreatestShow and ReignOfTerror docos!
08 Jul Chris Chapman: Right! I've just sent @classicdw my nearly-final cut of our
Death to the Daleks doco - 'Beneath the City of the Exxilons'. Hope he likes it!

Some artwork has also been released for Italian versions of classic Doctor Who stories, which are distributed by DNC Entertainment; a number of titles have been mentioned including I Dalek Invadono La Terra, Gli Inizi, I Semi Della Morte, L'Invasione and Il Lardo Di Menti.

via Twitter	via Twitter	via Twitter	via Twitter
via Twitter	via Twitter	via Twitter	via Twitter

FILTER: - Italy - UK - Tom Baker - International Broadcasting - Classic Series - Latin America -

BBC responds to complaints over Torchwood scheduling

Friday, 8 July 2011 - Reported by Harry Ward

The BBC has posted a response to complaints from UK fans over the scheduling of Torchwood: Miracle Day. BBC One will broadcast episodes six days after the US broadcast and five days after the Australian and Canadian broadcasts which has angered some fans. The Hollywood Reporter and The Guardian blogged about the delay.

Torchwood, Scheduling, BBC One
Publication date: 8 July 2011

Complaint

We received complaints from viewers unhappy that the new series of Torchwood will be broadcast in America before the UK.

The BBC's Response

We are pleased to announce that Torchwood will return to BBC One at 21.00 on Thursday 14 July.

Starz in the US have the contractual right to the World Premiere, that relates to the deal that was done and ultimately this has created better value for licence fee payers.

Contractually, the broadcasters in other territories can transmit from the next day onwards but being as close to the transmission in the US is not the only factor in the scheduling decision. We have identified what we think is the best slot for BBC One viewers and have also ensured that it's within a week of transmission in the US.

Eve Myles was interviewed by The Hollywood Reporter and gave her thoughts about the fan reaction to the delay of the UK broadcast.

THR: We’re sure you’ve heard the rancor out of the UK about BBC’s delayed premiere of the show. What would you like to say to those fans?

Myles: We never, ever, ever wanted to take this show away from the original fans. What we always wanted to do with the show was give them a gift every year, something wonderful, a big, big present. And if that present isn’t good enough, we aren’t going to give it to you. We’ve made you the best, best series yet. And it works out that it will be a week after the U.S. showing. And obviously we have nothing to do with that -- me nor John [Barrowman] or [showrunners Russel T. Davies and Julie Gardner]. But, just hold on tight. I’d just like to remind them that they’re our fans. We want them to sit back and enjoy it, be proud of it like we are, and to stick with us. If it was up to me and John, we’d have it to them straight away. But, it’s not.

THR: So, do you understand where they’re coming from?

Myles: Oh my God, of course I do. I was the biggest Six Feet Under fan in the world. And if that had happened, it went out there first and it didn’t come out here. That did happen with the first series. It went out there and we had to wait. And the reason why I was so frustrated and kind of pissed off about it is because I couldn’t wait to see it. I was so excited about seeing it. You just want to get to see it, don’t you? I mean fair play. These people have waited just over two years for this next season. You know, they’ve waited long enough. I wish I had the ten episodes here and I can invite them to my house and we could all watch them together. You know, tonight. Unfortunately, my house isn’t big enough and I only have one [episode] myself [she laughs]. Yeah, I’d like to say that if I had something to do with it that this wouldn’t be happening. But, sit tight, because it is a fantastic ride.

FILTER: - Torchwood - UK - Miracle Day (Series 4) - Broadcasting - BBC

Doctor Who at Comic Con France

Thursday, 30 June 2011 - Reported by Chuck Foster

The third annual French Comic Con kicks off today at the Paris-Nord Villepinte Exhibition Center, and as reported last month will feature a number of Doctor Who related activities, not least being the French debut of opening two episodes of Series Six, The Impossible Astronaut and Day of the Moon.

The two episodes will centre-case the Sunday proceedings featuring the event's Guest of Honour, Steven Moffat; from 11:30am there will be a masterclass by Doctor Who's head writer, followed by episodes themselves from 12:30pm. Afterwards Moffat will feature in a Doctor Who conference (2:30pm), followed by a signing session from 4:00pm.

Selected episodes of Doctor Who written by Moffat will also be screened, with Les Anges Pleureurs (Blink) today at 4:00pm, and La Bibliothèque des Ombres (Silence in the Library/Forest of the Dead) tomorrow from 12:30pm.

Saturday is dedicated to Moffat's other successful series, Sherlock, which has also been translated into French. A conference on the dub takes place from midday with Roland Timsit (artistic director) and Gilles Morvan (voice of Sherlock Holmes); this is then followed by a signing session from 1:30pm and then a screening of the first episode, Une Etude en Rose (A Study in Pink) at 2:45pm.

The full Comic Con schedule can be found on their website.

Steven Moffat appears courtesy of a partnership with BBC Worldwide, France 4 and France Television Distribution.

(with thanks to Aurélie Demonchaux/Beans on Toast)

FILTER: - Special Events - France - Series 6/32 - International Broadcasting - Europe

Torchwood: UK premiere on course for 14th July

Monday, 27 June 2011 - Reported by Chuck Foster

The BBC Press Office have informed us today that Torchwood: Miracle Day will most likely premiere on BBC1(HD) on Thursday 14th July at 9:00pm.

The announcement ends months of speculation over when the show would be broadcast in the United Kingdom, with Starz announcing Friday 8th July for Miracle Day back in March. Canada and Australia see the show a day later, with SPACE broadcasting at 9:00pm(ET) and UKTV 9:30pm on Saturdays.

A full BBC Press Release confirming the date and time is expected in the next couple of days.

FILTER: - Torchwood - UK - Miracle Day (Series 4) - Broadcasting

SPACE goes into HD

Friday, 24 June 2011 - Reported by Chuck Foster

Bell Media in Canada have announced that it will be launching a high definition version of the SPACE channel from the 6th July - just in time for Torchwood: Miracle Day!

Rick Brace, the President of Speciality Channels and CTV Production, Bell Media, said:

SPACE fans can celebrate the long-anticipated launch of SPACE HD, one of many new Bell Media HD specialty services currently or soon-to-be on offer. We’re thrilled to start the roll-out of HD programming with the highly anticipated launch of Torchwood: Miracle Day and some of the other series and movies from the channel’s engaging Summer lineup.

The channel will be available via Bell Satellite TV (channel 1746) and Bell Fibe TV (channel 1632).

The HD channel will mirror it's 'normal' version, with high definition programming being shown where available, such as the BBC series Outcasts and Syfy's Alphas.

FILTER: - Canada - Torchwood - Miracle Day (Series 4) - Broadcasting

Torchwood: UK broadcast date still uncertain

Thursday, 16 June 2011 - Reported by Chuck Foster

With just three weeks until Torchwood: Miracle Day premieres on Starz on 8th July, potential viewers in the UK are still awaiting a date for when the series will air on BBC1(HD).

Speculation over the planned timeslot has raged ever since the Starz announcement in March, and it was hoped by by fans in the UK for a similar Friday 8th July evening premiere - however, the BBC Press Office have now released details for Week 27, and Torchwood has not been scheduled for any time that week.

The confirmation that Miracle Day won't be shown on the same evening as the United States is not unexpected, as this coming Friday sees the new, final series of My Family commencing at 9:00pm on BBC1, followed by a repeat of Miranda at 9:30pm - based on its post-watershed content, the 9:00-10:00pm timeslot seemed most likely for Miracle Day (Children of Earth was in shown at this time for similar reasons).

As the weekly coverage from the BBC only reaches 8th July, it cannot be confirmed quite yet whether the series will commence over the following weekend, as with UKTV in Australia (Saturday 9th, 9:30pm), or at a later date.

SPACE have also yet to confirm their premiere date for Canada.

FILTER: - Torchwood - UK - Miracle Day (Series 4) - Broadcasting

International iPlayer rollout for Western Europe

Wednesday, 15 June 2011 - Reported by Chuck Foster

The international version of the BBC iPlayer moved one step closer to fruition, with the BBC's President of Worldwide Networks and Global iPlayer, Jana Bennett, presenting the plans for a staged rollout across Western Europe over the coming months.

Speaking at the 2011 Banff World Media Festival yesterday, she explained that, unlike the domestic version, the international iPlayer is not restricted to programmes that have already been shown on television.

The freedom from catch-up means that we've got a lot more flexibility in terms of what we put on there and how we present it. In overseas markets where the whole gamut of the BBC's linear broadcast isn't available then applying the on-demand model we have in the UK doesn’t make sense.

Whilst it won't happen overnight, our ambition is to present a timeless mix of classic and contemporary UK creativity, showcasing the best of British content from the 1950s to the present day. Vintage British creativity but fresh and for the future.

We want the global BBC iPlayer to imaginatively engage an on-demand audience with the best classic and contemporary British shows.

This version of the iPlayer will initially be a beta service available on Apple i-platforms, though other mobile and Internet-based access are expected to follow later. It was originally believed that the United States rather than Europe was the target for the initial roll-out, with the BBC's Director General, Mark Thompson, reporting in March that it would be offered as a monthly fee under the $10 mark; the European price is yet to be finalised, but is expected to be around €6-7 a month.

FILTER: - Online - Broadcasting - BBC

A Good Man Goes to War: Australian ratings

Sunday, 12 June 2011 - Reported by Adam Kirk

The mid-series finale A Good Man Goes to War has debuted in Australia to excellent ratings. TV Tonight reports that the episode averaged 815,000 viewers in the five major capital cities. It won its timeslot and was the top rating drama and ABC programme for the day. 'A Good Man' was the third highest rating programme for the day overall (only beaten by two commercial evening news programmes). The corresponding Confidential Cutdown also rated a very strong 619,000 viewers in the five major capitals (8th highest rating programme for the day overall). These overnight figures, however, do not include regional, rural and time-shifted viewers and hence significantly understate the actual national ratings.

Meanwhile, ABC TV has launched its own official Doctor Who website.

FILTER: - Ratings - Series 6/32 - Broadcasting - Australia

The Almost People: Australian ratings

Sunday, 5 June 2011 - Reported by Adam Kirk

The Almost People has debuted in Australia to solid ratings. TV Tonight reports that the episode averaged 718,000 viewers in the five major capital cities. It was the sixth highest rating programme for the day overall (only beaten in its timeslot by the Channel Nine movie, '17 again'). The corresponding Confidential Cutdown also rated a respectable 541,000 viewers in the five major capitals. These overnight figures, however, do not include regional, rural and time-shifted viewers and hence significantly understate the actual national ratings.

FILTER: - Ratings - Series 6/32 - Broadcasting - Australia

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