DW returns Aug 27: Zap2It.com

[DimesDan]

God, what is it with you lot. This happens every time, do you do have selective amnesia or something?

God only knows. We seem to go through it each year with when Who would start in Spring.

It's also 23Skidoo doing all the panicking and fear mongoring again. Do any Canadian broadcasters show programmes over here, because if they did, I've never seen or heard anyone be so interested and cause such a fuss when it comes to where ever they decide to show it in Canada from an English viewer.

The coming soon advert has been on, they normally occur a few weeks before broadcast, the BBC has been said time and again that due to the competition that they will not announce in advance when their ratings juggernaut will be aired, but you can be rest assured Alex that BBC One will show "Lets Kill Hitler" before BBC America and before which ever broadcaster in Canada. Not that it matters as it will be shown in Canada and you'll get to watch the bloody thing anyway Alex.

 

[tomalak301]

^Yeah, I don't know why the date the show is coming back is such a big deal. I hope the British see the show before we do in America, as it's there show, but I'll still watch and enjoy it because I'm a fan. Dosen't matter if I'm American, British, Canadian, we're all going to watch the same episode at some point. I am just really looking forward to it even though I see the trailer and I hope this second half might give us some good character/emotional moments where the music isn't so loud and the actors can actually act. In a way, maybe I just want another Fathers Day type episode since it feels like a lot of the season has been action action action and loud music and chaos. Hopefully it will be good.

 

[The Wormhole]

Although I understand the reasons behind why BBC doesn't announce the airdate too far in advance, there are times when they take things a bit too far. Like with Doctor Who when all the international broadcasters announce when they are going to air it. BBC obviously isn't going to air it after that date, so the competition can figure it out and make their plans accordingly.

And it does surprise me just how tightlipped BBC can be about airdates. According to The Writer's Tale, RTD never knew the airdates until the public did. Prior to public announcements, no one from BBC would tell him anything about airdates, they wouldn't even confirm the Christmas specials would air on Christmas.

 

[DimesDan]

Although I understand the reasons behind why BBC doesn't announce the airdate too far in advance, there are times when they take things a bit too far. Like with Doctor Who when all the international broadcasters announce when they are going to air it. BBC obviously isn't going to air it after that date, so the competition can figure it out and make their plans accordingly.

And it does surprise me just how tightlipped BBC can be about airdates. According to The Writer's Tale, RTD never knew the airdates until the public did. Prior to public announcements, no one from BBC would tell him anything about airdates, they wouldn't even confirm the Christmas specials would air on Christmas.

Does it actually matter though one way or another?

Does it ruin your viewing pleasure?

Does it mean you won't be able to see it where ever you are in North America?

 

[StCoop]

The absolute latest people will know is the Tuesday before it airs when that week's Listing's Magazines go on sale. Is there anyone for whom four days notice is really too little?

 

[Bob The Skutter]

^Yes, I like to plan my viewing a minimum of 8 months in advance.

 

[Tom]

It also says the BBC does not have faith in there product (Doctor Who) if they are so paranoid that ITV will through things out on whim to beat it.

 

[DimesDan]

^Yes, I like to plan my viewing a minimum of 8 months in advance.

I already have my entire life's worth of TV viewing mapped out!

It also says the BBC does not have faith in there product (Doctor Who) if they are so paranoid that ITV will through things out on whim to beat it.

Yes, because that's what it means.

 

[Bob The Skutter]

Erm, no it doesn't they always do it. They have a "gentleman's" agreement not to do it for soaps, but anything else is fair game for counter programming. Well unless it's the BBC doing it then ITV whinge and moan about it.

 

[The Wormhole]

Although I understand the reasons behind why BBC doesn't announce the airdate too far in advance, there are times when they take things a bit too far. Like with Doctor Who when all the international broadcasters announce when they are going to air it. BBC obviously isn't going to air it after that date, so the competition can figure it out and make their plans accordingly.

And it does surprise me just how tightlipped BBC can be about airdates. According to The Writer's Tale, RTD never knew the airdates until the public did. Prior to public announcements, no one from BBC would tell him anything about airdates, they wouldn't even confirm the Christmas specials would air on Christmas.

Does it actually matter though one way or another?

Does it ruin your viewing pleasure?

Does it mean you won't be able to see it where ever you are in North America?

No, no, and no.

Like I said, I do understand why its done, but in a case like Doctor Who when everyone else has announced a month in advanced when they are airing it, what does BBC gain by not announcing the same date as well? And does confirming that a Christmas special is going to air on Christmas day really screw them over that much?

But like you say, it doesn't really matter one way or the other, it's just an oddity I felt like commenting on. That is permissable, no?

 

[Bob The Skutter]

Well the thing is schedules can, and do, change last minute, For instance Channel 5 have made a mistake of putting out posters saying Celeb Big Brother starts on the 17th when they changed their minds and it actually starts on the 18th. So their marketing is wrong.
And as with other christmas specials they don't always have to air on Christmas day. Some air Christmas Eve, others Boxing Day, or any time over the Christmas and New Year period.

 

[wamdue]

For instance Channel 5 have made a mistake of putting out posters saying Celeb Big Brother starts on the 17th when they changed their minds and it actually starts on the 18th. So their marketing is wrong.

And as with other christmas specials they don't always have to air on Christmas day. Some air Christmas Eve, others Boxing Day, or any time over the Christmas and New Year period.

I really dont know what the BBC think they are doing with Doctor Whpo, I mean really its not like ITV doesnt know when it should return, and around what time it will return. I dont think being secertive is helpful in the long run, unless its a show that the other side have no clue when its going to air.

 

[Bob The Skutter]

^It's just the way the industry works here, and until they have a solid date they're wasting money putting out promotional material with a date on. Yes it's almost certainly airing on the 27th of August, but as with these riots something could happen last minute to stop that and necessitate a schedule change. Which of course could happen for Breaking News even after it's set, but that's a different matter.

 

[wamdue]

but that rather suggests there is still a chance it wont be 27th of August, I can only assume that the return date has been set, or the international channels will not have been given the go ahead to scheulde the episodes, so why hide what is a dead cert?

Even if the BBC dont tell us the time, then at the very least put it in for Saturday on the BBC Press website, why insult our intellgence?

Besides looking at ITVs provisional scheulde on Digiguide

18:30 - Youve Been Framed
19:00 - Family Fortunes
20:00 - X-Factor

Its pretty clear what kind of time Doctor Who should be airing, 7pm. Its natural timeslot.

 

[Bob The Skutter]

^Because international channels schedule much farther in advance. So they've set their schedules according to what the BBC have told them is likely, though if the BBC change their minds then the international channels will, depending on the rights they've been sold, have to reschedule last minute.

 

[wamdue]

^Because international channels schedule much farther in advance. So they've set their schedules according to what the BBC have told them is likely, though if the BBC change their minds then the international channels will, depending on the rights they've been sold, have to reschedule last minute.

but ITV know this as well, so there is nothing to be gained by hiding the return date, the exact time maybe, but not return date.

However lets face it, Doctor Who is going to start after 6pm, and finish before 8:30pm, so its hardly hard for ITV guess.

I just dont see what is to be gained.

 

[Rarewolf]

Torchwood has taken a noticeable hit in the UK ratings due, most likely, to people downloading the US broadcasts a week earlier

Has it? The viewing figures look pretty respectable to me.

In the top 10 for BBC1 every week.

I never noticed how depressing ITV's top ten is these days. Only one show in the past four published weeks thats not a soap (Law And Order scraped in at 10th on 10/7/11)

I just dont see what is to be gained.

They have the flexabilty to say 18:00, 18:20, 19:30 etc.

I have heard a rumour its another 60 minute episode.

 

[wamdue]

the BBC website in question has put programs in a "unplaced" section before, no reason they could not have done that for Doctor Who.

 

[VDCNI]

Maybe they won't to hold off so they can make a big announcemnt and press release at what they consider the right time.

The vast majority of the Who audience will have no idea a US airdate has been announced.

 

[HappyDayRiot]

Torchwood has taken a noticeable hit in the UK ratings due, most likely, to people downloading the US broadcasts a week earlier

Has it? The viewing figures look pretty respectable to me.

In the top 10 for BBC1 every week.

Yes. I'd like to see some hard evidence for this claim, including evidence downloads are hurting the show as opposed to a natural drop-off as is normal.