Torchwood Season Two on BBC America

Tuesday, 20 November 2007 - Reported by R Alan Siler

In a press release today, BBC America issued the following statement:

"BBC AMERICA's all-time highest rated show, Torchwood, is back with a U.S. premiere second season, beginning January 26, 9:00pm ET/PT. Created by Russell T Davies, lead writer on the current Doctor Who series, Torchwood (13 x 60) is a BBC Production, distributed by BBC Worldwide."

Torchwood is set to debut on BBC2 "early 2008", and the press release describes the show's American airing as "close to its UK premiere".

The 7-disk Season One box set is set for release in America during that same week, on January 22nd.

The entire press release appears below:
JANUARY IS TORCHWOOD MONTH WITH THE RETURN OF BBC AMERICA'S HIT SCI-FI SHOW AND DVD RELEASE

BBC AMERICA's all-time highest rated show, Torchwood, is back with a U.S. premiere second season, beginning January 26, 9:00pm ET/PT. Created by Russell T Davies, lead writer on the current Doctor Who series, Torchwood (13 x 60) is a BBC Production, distributed by BBC Worldwide.

With guest stars including James Marsters (Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Smallville), Alan Dale (Ugly Betty, The OC) and Doctor Who's Freema Agyeman, the show will air close to its UK premiere.

Richard De Croce, VP Programming, BBC AMERICA says: Torchwood has legions of loyal fans in the U.S. and we wanted to bring them the next season as soon as possible.

And fresh from its critically acclaimed airing on BBC AMERICA in September, Torchwood: The Complete First Season goes on sale January 22. The 7-disc DVD set includes over 6 hours of bonus features including outtakes and cast interviews.

Torchwood is an action-packed, adrenalin-fuelled sci-fi series following the adventures of a team of investigators, lead by Captain Jack Harkness (John Barrowman), who use alien technology to solve crime. With fearsome new aliens and compelling storylines the second season takes the close-knit Torchwood team through dare-devil action, temptation, heartache and a life changing event for one of the team.

Hollywood Reporter called it "...a crackling good, brilliantly conceived sci-fi series that targets actual grown-ups" while the Philadelphia Inquirer said it was "...super-slick, raw, bizarre, hilarious, spooky, scary and sublimely sexy."

BBC AMERICA brings audiences a new generation of award-winning television featuring razor-sharp comedies, provocative dramas, life-changing makeovers and news with a uniquely global perspective. BBC AMERICA pushes the boundaries to deliver high quality, highly addictive and eminently watchable programming to viewers who demand more. BBC AMERICA is distributed by Discovery Networks. It is available on digital cable and satellite TV. For more information about BBC AMERICA visit www.bbcamerica.com.




FILTER: - Torchwood - USA - Broadcasting

BBC to sell TV Centre; Doctor Who safe

Thursday, 18 October 2007 - Reported by Josiah Rowe
Mark Thompson, the director general of the BBC, has announced plans for major cuts at the BBC, including the sale of Television Centre by the end of the 2012-2013 financial year. The complex was one of the world's first purpose-built TV studios and the home of Doctor Who production from 1966-89. The sale of the property is planned as part of a series of cuts proposed to fund digital switch-over in the UK. In a speech to BBC staff today, Thompson declined to discuss how his proposals, which also include a 10% reduction of new programme commissions and a predicted rise in repeats, will affect the BBC's commercial wing, BBC Worldwide.

However, the BBC has confirmed that one of its priorities after the cuts will be television drama, and specifically mentioned Doctor Who as an example of the programmes on which the BBC will focus:
Television drama: prioritising high-impact, distinctive drama series of wide appeal and range, from classic drama such as this autumn's new five-part drama serial Cranford starring Judi Dench to modern drama that captures the imagination of audiences, such as Life On Mars, Doctor Who and Spooks.

A BBC press release about the planned changes can be found here; BBC News covers the story (including BBC staff reactions) here and here.




FILTER: - Production - Broadcasting - BBC

Start Date for Sarah Jane

Wednesday, 12 September 2007 - Reported by Jarrod Cooper

The BBC have announced that The Sarah Jane Adventures will begin broadcasting on Monday, September 24th at 5:00 pm. On Sunday the 23rd, CBBC will be repeating the New Year's specialInvasion of the Bane. The first story of the series will be Revenge of the Slitheen by Gareth Roberts.
Sarah Jane Smith, investigative journalist and former companion to The Doctor, is back in a brand-new CBBC drama from the makers of Doctor Who. And in the first two-part story of the series she faces some familiar alien enemies of The Doctor as the Slitheen are back and out for revenge...

On their first day at their new school Maria and Luke soon realise that all is not as it seems. There's a funny smell, the food keeps going off, the teachers keep farting and the new technology block is hiding some dark secrets.

With their suspicions aroused, Sarah Jane, Maria and Luke set about investigating, joined by their new friend Clyde. They soon discover that the Slitheen have disguised themselves as teachers as part of a deadly plan which threatens the future of the Earth.

But as Maria, Luke and Clyde become trapped in the new technology block in the clutches of the Slitheen and with Sarah Jane under attack from another of the alien monsters, will the gang be able to stop the Slitheen before it's too late?




FILTER: - Sarah Jane - Broadcasting

Canada: Doctor Who pre-empted again this week

Monday, 10 September 2007 - Reported by Mike Doran

Doctor Who is being pre-empted again this week by theCanadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC)due to the live broadcast of the 2007 Canadian Country Music Awards. The live broadcast from Regina, Saskatchewan would have affected the broadcast of Doctor Who across most of the country.

Doctor Who was also pre-empted in parts of Canada last week due to Labour Day CFL Football broadcasts in some timezones. Areas that were not affected by the live football saw a repeat of the episode Gridlock.

Doctor Who will return to the CBC on Monday September 17th with the episode Utopia.




FILTER: - Canada - Broadcasting

Infinite Quest - Repeat

Saturday, 1 September 2007 - Reported by Marcus
Viewers in the United Kingdom can see a repeat of the animated Doctor Who Story,The Infinite Queston Sunday morning, at 9.10 on BBC2.

The Infinite Quest was originally shown as part of the CBBC series Totally Doctor Who.

Meanwhile BBC3 continues its repeat schedule with Season Three, showing weekday evenings at 7pm.




FILTER: - Animation - Broadcasting

Torchwood hits Brazil and Mexico

Wednesday, 8 August 2007 - Reported by Jarrod Cooper

Torchwood is slated to begin airing in Brazil this month. The premiere will be on August 28th on the People and Arts channel.

Since the 9th of July Torchwood has also been available in Mexico, viaCanal22. The programme is shown in a half hour slot on Mondays and Wednesdays at 2230.

Thank you to Karla and Carlos Santillan




FILTER: - Torchwood - Broadcasting

S3 To Begin In New Zealand

Friday, 3 August 2007 - Reported by DWNP Archive

New Zealand TV channel Prime will broadcast the 2006 Christmas special The Runaway Bride on Sunday, August 19, to start off the run of Series Three.

Assuming each episode then follows every Sunday, the show will run until November 18.

NB: The press pack with cast listings for episodes one to seven (Smith and Jonesto 42) contains a character spoiler for episode two, The Shakespeare Code.

(Thanks to David French.)




FILTER: - Specials - Series 3/29 - New Zealand - Broadcasting

Channel Ten 'bumps' Torchwood

Wednesday, 1 August 2007 - Reported by Adam Kirk

Australian commercial broadcaster Channel Ten has dropped Torchwood from the Monday 9.30pm timeslot, moving the programme to Tuesday nights at midnight (Wednesday 12am). Next week it will be replaced by a special, Tomb of Jesus, a documentary about the 2,000-year-old "Tomb of the Ten Ossuaries", found in Jerusalem. This change follows Monday night's episode, 'Greeks Bearing Gifts', starting 55 minutes late due to the season final of Big Brother over-running. 'Greeks' rated 563,000 in the five major capitals. A number of Torchwood episodes have commenced late in recent weeks due to Big Brother running overtime.

Channel Ten has a history of dropping programmes mid-season from prime time as a result of 'disappointing' ratings. Programmes such as JerichoBattlestar GalacticaVeronica Mars and Smallville have shared a similar fate.

Meanwhile, AnnMaree Bellman of the Sydney Morning Herald has reviewed 'Greeks Bearing Gifts'.




FILTER: - Torchwood - Broadcasting - Australia

Sarah Jane Will Air In Autumn

Tuesday, 17 July 2007 - Reported by DWNP Archive

The BBC has confirmed that spin-off series The Sarah Jane Adventures will be broadcast this autumn.

press office story about the rebranding of CBBC says that the show will be part of the autumn season.

A precise date for when The Sarah Jane Adventures will start is yet to be given. The series will comprise five two-part stories.

The new look for CBBC, designed to attract a wider audience of children aged six to 12, will be unveiled at the end of the summer.




FILTER: - Sarah Jane - Broadcasting

USA Series Three Starts Friday - Updated

Tuesday, 3 July 2007 - Reported by Shaun Lyon

The US Sci Fi Channel cable network begins airing Series Three of Doctor Who this Friday, July 6 at 8pm. The broadcast of the third season, which stars David Tennant and Freema Agyeman, begins with the debut of last December's Christmas special, "The Runaway Bride" at 8pm and the first regular season episode, "Smith and Jones," immediately following at 9:30pm. Episodes will then be broadcast on subsequent Fridays at 9pm, with a one-week break on August 31 due to the Labor Day holiday weekend. The show then moves to 8pm as of September 7 due to the return of Stargate Atlantis at 9pm.

The schedule of episodes is as follows:

July 6 - The Runaway Bride (8:00pm), Smith and Jones (9:30pm)
July 13 - The Shakespeare Code (9:00pm)
July 20 - Gridlock (9:00pm)
July 27 - Daleks in Manhattan (9:00pm)
August 3 - Evolution of the Daleks (9:00pm)
August 10 - The Lazarus Experiment (9:00pm)
August 17 - 42 (9:00pm)
August 24 - Human Nature (9:00pm)
September 7 - The Family of Blood (8:00pm)
September 14 - Blink (8:00pm)
September 21 - Utopia (8:00pm)
September 28 - The Sound of Drums (8:00pm)
October 4 - Last of the Time Lords (9:30pm)




FILTER: - USA - Series 3/29 - Broadcasting