Our sources have indicated that an announcement of the airdate is soon forthcoming... and that airdate will be March 26, 2005. We know that the airdate will be prefaced by a series of radio trailers aired on the BBC7 digital radio network (among other promotional being done elsewhere), and are told that this is the date currently being touted around that radio campaign. Though there have been recent reports speculating earlier, or later, airdates (ITV's Teletext service previewed upcoming shows for 2005, for example, stating viewers should "expect [Doctor Who] in February"), Outpost Gallifrey is fairly certain that this late March airdate will be the one. (Though of course this is NOT official confirmation of an airdate; this date could still be wrong!) There are also rumors that the new issue of Doctor Who Magazine may feature the actual airdate as well. More as we get it.

The New Zealand television station Prime TV have announced that they've picked up the new Doctor Who series, according to a press release on their website. "BBC Worldwide announces today the licence of the new series of the cult classic Doctor Who to Prime Television New Zealand," says the release. "Only the second international deal to be finalised, the new series will deliver to Prime Television in the first quarter of 2005. Starring Christopher Eccleston (The Second Coming, Cracker, Elizabeth) and Billie Piper (Canterbury Tales) and written by a team led by Russell T Davies (Queer As Folk) the series sees Doctor Who, the alien loner and his companion Rose forge a friendship across time and space. Fans out there should brace themselves for some exhilarating experiences and deadly confrontations. This ninth Doctor will take viewers from the natural end of the world far in the future to Victorian times for an encounter with Charles Dickens, from gaseous monsters with deadly plans for humanity to alien crash-landings and conspiracies that lead to the very heart of the government. The show delivers all the excitement of good drama, with a hero who never carries a gun. The human race will survive, but only with the DoctorÆs help! It has been over 40 years since Doctor Who hit our screens and sparked a fan base that spans the world. International conventions, fan clubs with members numbering in the thousands and books, videos, DVDs and merchandise are just part of the on-going phenomenon that is Doctor Who. David Vine, BBC Worldwide Managing Director Asia Pacific, says, 'This series has been long anticipated. We are very excited that Prime will bring the new Doctor to New Zealand audiences. If you are a long-time Doctor Who fan you wonÆt be disappointed but equally if you are someone who has never heard of a Tardis or a Time Lord you will be able to climb on board and travel through time and space for the first time. Prepare for brand-new, spell-binding adventures.' PrimeÆs Programming Manager Andrew Shaw says, 'I am delighted to have acquired this fantastic new drama from the BBC. Doctor Who promises to be an outstanding series. We very much look forward to placing it in our primetime schedule. This series will captivate a whole new generation of fans who have never experienced the legend that is Doctor Who.'" (Thanks to Paul Scoones, Jon Preddle, Alden Bates, Dean Brown, Christopher Feyrer, Paul Engelberg)

Those readers who were hoping that there'd be a preview showing of the new Doctor Who series at Christmas time (as had been rumored in online circles, though not here at OG) take note: the BBC's holiday season television schedules are now out and there's no mention of the show at all. This lends further credence to the spring airing, which we will believe is a mid-March debut. (Thanks to "Distant Dave")

While there is no official word about a broadcaster for the new series in Australia, an email from the corporate affairs division of Australia Broadcasting/ABC indicates that the ABC network is indeed interested in showing it and is working to acquire the rights. We hope to have more details soon. (Thanks to John Hatfield)

TBI Buyers' Briefing, a weekly information service sent to over 6,000 worldwide TV executives, this morning features a news item: "BBC scout gets feet under US table: Dr Who US sale being finalised". Among the various items mentioned in the report, which is mostly about the move of BBC Worldwide executive Paul Telegdy from London to the US, is an impending sale of the new series to this, the largest television market for the new show. "One really exciting franchise on both sides of the Atlantic that audiences know and love is Dr Who," Telegdy is quoted as saying in the report. It mentions that he is talking to an "interested party" and is confident it will be sold to a US network in the near future. "We're discussing the ratings potential of the show," he explains. He is likely referring to a cable network, not to one of the over-air broadcast networks.

Meanwhile, the UK trade paper Broadcast also mentions the Canadian acquisition of the show in an article in yesterday's edition. "Canadian public broadcaster CBC Television has become the first channel to buy the new series of Dr Who, months before it is due to air in the UK." (This doesn't mean it will air before the UK, only that it's been bought months before the broadcast.) But CBC Television executive director programming Slawko Klymkiw does state, "This was an exciting opportunity for CBC to bring Dr Who to fans new and old alike across the country. We are pleased to be working closely with BBC to bring Canadians this exceptional new series." (Thanks to John Freeman)

A press release on the BBC Press Office website today confirms the news Outpost Gallifrey recently noted: that an agreement has been signed with Canada's CBC network to broadcast the new Doctor Who series. "BBC Worldwide today concluded its first major pre-sale for the new Doctor Who series with Canadian public broadcaster, CBC Television," says the press release. Producer Russell T Davies notes that "Doctor Who has a remarkable 'fandom' but equally itÆs the new audience that I care about. Someone who has never heard of a TARDIS or a Dalek, whether in Toronto or Swansea, will be able to start with this new series, climb on board with Christopher and Billie, and travel the whole of time and space." Slawko Klymkiw, executive programming director of CBC Television, is quoted as saying, "This was an exciting opportunity for CBC to bring the popular Doctor Who to fans - new and old alike - across the country. We are pleased to be working closely with BBC to bring Canadians this exceptional new series," and Hilary Read, Chief Operating Officer, BBC Worldwide Canada adds, "The CBC is the perfect partner for this fantastic new production. We're delighted to be bringing such a classic series to new audiences." There is no information about when the series will air on CBC, but it will likely be sometime relatively soon after the new series is broadcast in the UK. (Thanks to Steve Tribe)

There are several rumors going around that the Sci-Fi Channel has purchased, or will be purchasing, the rights to broadcast the new series in tandem with the rights to rebroadcast the original. According to a letter sent to "This Week in Doctor Who" from Maryland Public Television, this is the case; however, sources at the Sci-Fi Channel (and its parent company, NBC/Universal) have denied that any deal has taken place. In fact, no deal has been signed at this time to broadcast the series in America and is not expected to happen until much later this year or early next year.

ABC TV Australia has brokered a deal with the estate of Terry Nation, and will start showing Dalek serials as part of their re-run of the entirety of Doctor Who, starting with "Death to the Daleks" on 15th September 2004. No Dalek episodes previously skipped in the schedule due to the licence issues will be screened, however. (Thanks to Piers Johnson)

BBC Four is reshowing its documentary on the 1960s, Fantasy TV, including Doctor Who clips, this Saturday night at 8pm. Still no news of a non-digital showing, though! (Thanks to Steve Tribe)

Further to our earlier story, The Web of Fear Episode 1 will be airing on BBC4 on Saturday June 26 at 8:50pm. This broadcast, from restored masters, is part of the BBC's Sixties event; see earlier news reports for details. (Thanks to David Harold)