Doctor Who Advertising in the US

[Cyke101]

Stop me if you've heard this one before in your respective cities, but here in Chicago, in the Lake St. stop of our Red Line train, there are four billboards, two on each side of the track: One has the new sonic screwdriver and next to it is one with the TARDIS. On the other side, one with a floating Dalek, and lastly one with 11, Amy, and a lit up TARDIS (a reuse of the previous photo... it's a good lesson in how to notice photoshop). It's very odd, I thought to myself, but is Who exposure so great in the States now that it warrants an ad blitz? Whatever the answer may be, it sure was nice to see.

This is the first time that I've seen out and out blatant Doctor Who advertising here in the States. Sure, there would be the occasional poster with Ten, but not a full-fledged campaign. It's nice to see, but I'm wondering if this has happened before with, say, Nine or Ten elsewhere.

 

[beneldon]

Lucky you!

Here in the land of RottingHaus Manor... we got nothin. In fact our local affiliate of the cable clonglomo know as "Slime-Porner" dropped BBC America from their line up last year...

 

[gastrof]

The only ads I want to see are the ones saying the show's coming to SyFy Channel.

We don't get BBC-A here either.

 

[Cyke101]

The only ads I want to see are the ones saying the show's coming to SyFy Channel.

We don't get BBC-A here either.

For that matter, and I could be wrong here, but I don't notice a lot of advertising for *any* BBC America program here in Chicago, either. hmm.

 

[23skidoo]

I'm in Canada so we don't see a lot of advertising either of that nature.

I have noticed that this month's DC Comics releases include a full-page ad, much as issues released in the fall included ads for the final specials. I don't buy Marvels so I don't know if they're doing the same.

I found it rather odd since the comic book rights to DW are held in North America by IDW Publishing, not Marvel or DC.

Alex

 

[auntiehill]

In Texas, there is NO advertising for Doctor Who at all.

The only time I see a Dr. Who commercial is when I'm watching BBC America.

 

[Cutter John]

*sigh* Its not easy being an American who fan.

 

[Awesome Possum]

There is an ad in the latest issue of Wired, the one with the iPad on the cover. There is a short article about the new season as well.

 

[AdmiralGarak]

EDIT-- Never mind. Off-topic rambling.

 

[23skidoo]

*sigh* Its not easy being an American who fan.

What with waiting two whole weeks until the US premiere on BBCA, or having to wait a couple more days after that for the iTunes release. Rough, rough stuff.

Remember how long we had to wait for the Eccleston season, not knowing if we'd ever get it? Two weeks behind the UK? Pretty darn good, if you ask me.

While I can't disagree with the comment, I think you've mis-read this thread. Cutter John is referring to the fact that Doctor Who isn't getting a lot of promotion in the US, which is what's being discussed here. Nothing to do with the broadcast dates.

Alex

 

[AdmiralGarak]

Wow, I'm not really sure how the airdate bit got into my head. A bit distracted, I suppose.


On topic... A foreign sci-fi program on cable doesn't really warrant a big advertising blitz in the US. Perhaps BBCA had reasons to target Chicagoans as a big Doctor Who demographic (always liked Chicago ), but it certainly isn't the norm.

 

[Cutter John]

Thanks 23.

Of course now that I've thought about it, its not like the original series got a lot of promotion here either. It was all fannish word-of-mouth.

 

[Cyke101]

Just a quick update on this thread:

In typical subway fashion, someone graffiti'd the sonic screwdriver billboard! I swear, we have some idiots here in Chicago -- you're suppose to graffiti the TARDIS, stupid!

 

[Demonland]

Stop me if you've heard this one before in your respective cities, but here in Chicago, in the Lake St. stop of our Red Line train, there are four billboards, two on each side of the track: One has the new sonic screwdriver and next to it is one with the TARDIS. On the other side, one with a floating Dalek, and lastly one with 11, Amy, and a lit up TARDIS (a reuse of the previous photo... it's a good lesson in how to notice photoshop). It's very odd, I thought to myself, but is Who exposure so great in the States now that it warrants an ad blitz? Whatever the answer may be, it sure was nice to see.

This is the first time that I've seen out and out blatant Doctor Who advertising here in the States. Sure, there would be the occasional poster with Ten, but not a full-fledged campaign. It's nice to see, but I'm wondering if this has happened before with, say, Nine or Ten elsewhere.

If you have a camera phone are you able to take a picture and upload for all of us to see?

As the saying goes .... Pictures or it didn't happen.

 

[Awesome Possum]

Just a quick update on this thread:

In typical subway fashion, someone graffiti'd the sonic screwdriver billboard! I swear, we have some idiots here in Chicago -- you're suppose to graffiti the TARDIS, stupid!

Now be a man and write "Bad Wolf" on the TARDIS.

 

[Cyke101]

Stop me if you've heard this one before in your respective cities, but here in Chicago, in the Lake St. stop of our Red Line train, there are four billboards, two on each side of the track: One has the new sonic screwdriver and next to it is one with the TARDIS. On the other side, one with a floating Dalek, and lastly one with 11, Amy, and a lit up TARDIS (a reuse of the previous photo... it's a good lesson in how to notice photoshop). It's very odd, I thought to myself, but is Who exposure so great in the States now that it warrants an ad blitz? Whatever the answer may be, it sure was nice to see.

This is the first time that I've seen out and out blatant Doctor Who advertising here in the States. Sure, there would be the occasional poster with Ten, but not a full-fledged campaign. It's nice to see, but I'm wondering if this has happened before with, say, Nine or Ten elsewhere.

If you have a camera phone are you able to take a picture and upload for all of us to see?

As the saying goes .... Pictures or it didn't happen.

Oh, my camera phone bites, but fear not! I will get the photos to you somehow.

Just a quick update on this thread:

In typical subway fashion, someone graffiti'd the sonic screwdriver billboard! I swear, we have some idiots here in Chicago -- you're suppose to graffiti the TARDIS, stupid!

Now be a man and write "Bad Wolf" on the TARDIS.

Can I use the screwdriver to deactivate that pesky, deadly third rail?

 

[Ar-Pharazon]

I don't know about other cities, but Chicago PBS had the classic series for a very long time. They could be remembering that fact with the ad blitz.

I'm up in Gurnee, so I'm in the "haven't seen anything for ads" group. And I for one am glad to have BBC-A, they do a much better job of airing anything than SyFy. There haven't been any complaints about the placement of commercial breaks since BBC-A has been airing the show here.