According to the ABC Shop website, October 2004 is the tentative release date for The Leisure Hive on DVD in Australia. It's likely that a New Zealand release will follow within a few weeks as usual. It appears from recent releases that the Australia DVDs are following on about 3 months after the UK versions, in a one-every-two-month pattern. (Thanks to David Dungey)

According to ABC Shop Online, The Green Death will be out on DVD in Australia (and presumably New Zealand) in August 2004, a mere two months after its UK release. Pyramids of Mars has just been released there as well.Update: June 10: The Australian release date is August 5 but the New Zealand release date is September 2. (Thanks to David Dungey, Paul Scoones)

According to the Green Guide TV Guide in Melbourne, Australia, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation will not be screening The War Games, the final Patrick Troughton story, due to the BBC being "unable to resolve the TV rights of the Daleks with Terry Nation's agents," despite the fact that a Dalek appears only in a glimpse in part ten. Notably, the ongoing rights issues (which are more for Nation's entire estate, versus simply the Daleks themselves) has not stopped the ABC screening William Hartnell's three Dalek stories in the recent past. (Thanks to Glenn Robinson)

ABC Australia confirms here that the DVD of The Visitation is due out there in April. (Thanks to Justin Watson)

A recent press release by BBC Worldwide entitled The TARDIS lands down under talks about tribute programming to honor the show's 40th anniversary. "ABC TV is currently screening the entire Doctor Who series every Monday to Thursday at 6pm," says the press release. "Mrena Manzoufas, Head of Programming, ABC TV says, 'Doctor Who made its debut in November 1963 and ABC TV last screened it in March 1994. Since then we have received an endless number of requests from Doctor Who fans who want to re-live the whole Doctor Who experience and have decided to re-screen the entire series from episode one.' In addition, UKTV in Australia will run an extensive schedule to celebrate the anniversary year. Hosted by Katy Manning (the voice of UKTV and former companion to Jon Pertwee), the channel will show selected episodes featuring the eight Doctors who have steered the TARDIS since 1963, on Saturday mornings from 11 October - 22 November. Tony Iffland, Chief Executive, UKTV says, Doctor Who is an iconic British programme - we could not let the 40th Anniversary pass without a special UKTV celebration.' Julie Dowding, Head of Sales Australasia, BBC Worldwide says, 'The Doctor Who franchise has always been incredibly popular in this territory and this is reflected by the strong support from our broadcast partners in this anniversary year." The press release also mentions that "BBC Worldwide is currently exploring the possibility of developing Doctor Who into a major US studio film, and last month BBC green-lit scripts for a brand new television series from writer Russell T Davies," possibly keeping alive the word that a film may indeed happen as well as a TV series!

Australian journalist, writer and actor Chris Thomas has his sights on travelling through time in the TARDIS and taking on the Daleks, after launching a campaign to become the next Doctor Who, according to local papers in Australia. The eclectic Thomas, age 31, lives in Perth, Western Australia, and has a string of stage credits to his name; he says he is determined to be considered for the coveted role. "I know it's a long shot but when you get one chance to fulfil your ultimate ambition, then surely it's worth doing all you can to pursue it?" he says. "There are bound to be howls of protest from some quarters when they hear an Australian wants to take on the part but it's simply a matter of doing it with a British accent. Besides, Sylvester McCoy had a notable Scottish lilt when he played the role." Thomas is asking fans to write to the BBC to suggest his name. Innnnteresting.... (Thanks to Rick Hughes)

Australia's UKTV has announced via their "Spring Preview" magazine that they will begin highlighting the 40th anniversary of the program with a special run of Doctor Who stories starting October 11 hosted by Katy Manning (Jo Grant), who will be "taking a look at all seven Doctors to have steered the TARDIS since 1963." Episodes include "An Unearthly Child," "The War Games," "The Three Doctors," "Planet of the Spiders," "The Deadly Assassin," "Logopolis," "The Five Doctors," "The Caves of Androzani," "The Two Doctors," "The Ultimate Foe" and "Survival" as well as the 1996 DW TV movie. This comes on top of ABC Television's announcement that Doctor Who returns to its screens on Monday, September 15. Further information on exact times of stories being aired will be found soon on the Varos website when it becomes available. Says the press information: "Tune in on Sunday, November 23 at 8:30pm for a special surprise." Also in Australia: a showing of the second Peter Cushing Dalek film "Daleks: Invasion Earth 2150AD" commercial free on both Wednesday, September 10 and Sunday, September 14. (Thanks to Jason Fraser)

Word from the Doctor Who Club of Australia: Doctor Who returns to the airwaves this September! ABC-TV (Channel 2) will be screening the series in Australia four nights a week (Monday through Thursday) starting September 15, 2003 at 6:00pm. Says the press release: "The most famous time traveller of all time Dr Who returns to ABC TV in September. ABC TV will screen the entire Dr Who series from episode one every Monday to Thursday at 6pm from September 15th. The first episode æAn Unearthly ChildÆ stars the original Gallifreyan Time Lord William Hartnell. Head of ABC TV Programming, Ms Marena Manzoufas, said re-screening the original Dr Who episodes coincided with the programÆs 40th Anniversary. 'Dr Who made its debut in November 1963 and ABC TV last screened it in March 1994,' she said. 'Since then we have received an endless number of requests from Dr Who fans. Dr Who was the longest running science fiction series ever made and everyone has a favourite episode, Doctor or evil foe such as the Daleks and Cybermen. There are many fans addicted to the program who want to re-live the whole Dr Who experience from the start.' And ABC TV also decided to re-screen the entire series from episode one for those who missed them or where too young to see how the adventure began." (Thanks to Jason Fraser and the DWCA)