The Sci Fi Channel has announced it will start airing Series Three ofDoctor Who in the USA fromJuly 6 at 9pm.Outpost Gallifrey reported four days ago that the channel had acquired the series. The press release said Sci Fi would be showing the programme in July but a precise date was not given by the company then.

(Thanks to Scot Ferre.)

In a press release issued today, SCI FI Channel and BBC Worldwide Americas announced a major acquisition deal for the US premiere of the third season of Doctor Who. The series will debut on SCI FI in July 2007, kicking off with the Doctor Who Christmas Special, The Runaway Bride, guest-starring award-winning comedy actress Catherine Tate.

Chris Regina, Vice President of Programming, SCI FI Channel, said "Doctor Who has become a favorite among SCI FI audiences. We are happy to bring the show back for its third season and look forward to following the Doctor's continuing adventures with his newest companion."

Candace Carlisle, COO, BBC Sales Company, commented, "SCI FI Channel has been a fantastic platform for the Doctor Who series in the US. We're excited for the Season Three launch and think American audiences will simply love the Doctor's hip new companion."

BBC Video will continue to work with SCI FI Channel on joint marketing promotions to support the Doctor Who brand in the US.

Burton Cromer, Senior Vice President, Consumer Products, BBC Worldwide Americas said: "Our promotional partnership with the SCI FI Channel, both on-air and online, was a significant factor in the fantastic success we've had with the new Doctor Who. It's also helped drive awareness and sales of our 40 plus line of classic Doctor Who titles."

The second season of the new Doctor Who earned impressive ratings during its airing on SCI FI, delivering an average of over one million viewers each week.

Read the entire press release here.

The BBC said today that this coming Saturday's episode of Doctor Whowould be put back a week if the preceding football match overruns because "it could not be broadcast after extra time as it would be 'too late' for younger fans."

It details the alternative schedule for BBC Three, should the episode be bumped, adding that the decision whether or not to pull the episode will be made on the day.

BBC One is broadcasting the FA Cup semi-final clash between Manchester United and Watford.

The new edition of the Radio Times, out today, confirms that Gridlock - episode three of Series Three - will be shown on April 21 rather than April 14 if the FA Cup semi-final between Manchester United and Watford, which precedes it, goes into extra time/penalties, as reported by Outpost Gallifrey on April 7.

How this would affect subsequent episodes is unknown. According to the "Next week in RT" banner at the back of the new edition of the listings magazine, Radio Times is planning a cover story for its edition dated 21-27 April to coincide with the start of the Dalek two-parter, which had been scheduled to go out on April 21 and 28.

Full details of what would happen to tie-in programme scheduling have been published by the CBBC Newsroundwebsite. They are as reproduced below.

(Thanks to Lizo Mzimba for the additional information.)

BBC America has confirmed that Torchwood will be added to its line up as part of theSupernatural Saturday strand. It will join Doctor Who, Hex, Life on Mars and Jekyll as part of the new programming.