Petition for the BBC to show more Classic Who
- Thread starter Bob The Skutter
- Start date
I wonder if a similar petition could be started for PBS in the States to show Classic Who again as well - or, more likely, BBC Worldwide to make the classic episodes available to PBS stations again. It's great that many PBS stations are showing the 2005-2008 seasons, and it's cool that some (all?) also show full-length Doctor Who Confidentials, but that aside I miss being able to tune in late on a Saturday or Sunday night and watch a 90-minute blast of Peter Davison or Jon Pertwee.
Alex
Alex
I talked with the person in charge of getting this sort of programming for the Iowa PBS, just a few weeks ago. I am told that the license fee to air just one episode per week would cost more than 25 percent of their entire year's budget.
And he said that's not just programming, but everything (payroll, lights, etc) combined.
By comparison, new Who is, and I quote, "unbelievably cheap."
So it's really up to the BBC, whether they are willing to lower the fee. I mean, why wouldn't they? Lower the fee, and actually get some revenue coming in. Keep the sky-high fee and have nothing coming in. Makes no sense.
Whatever the behind the scenes wrangling, that's the BBC's problem and not ours. Ours as in the audience is not being able to watch the previous seasons on TV. I think it would be nice if they started from the beginning. Also, why doesn't Netflix stream more of Doctor Who?
I wish BBC America would open a slot somewhere, they showed classic Who for a few weeks way back when on Saturday morning but it's been a long time now.
That's why the 3 PBS Stations I know stopped airing them, the market outpriced them, so they had to drop them. Lower the fees, and I believe not just PBS, but, other "TVLAND" style programmed channels would also probably be interested. It's even be interesting to see the Science Channel examine the episodes with "real Science" commentary or reflection after a story aired every week.
Probably went up while the market was hot and willing to paid what was asked, until it became too expensive for anyone to bother with
I don't know, when was the last time any cable station showed interest in older SF outside of Star Trek?
SciFi started with Dr Who, TCM is currently showing Buck Rogers with Buster Crabbe ( 2 episodes per weekend), TVLand had Fantasy Island a couple years back. Time Tunnel, Planet of the Giants, and 20,000 Leagues under the Sea aired not more than 5 or 6 years somewhere on cable.
But, again, I'm sure PBS Stations would love to get it back for an "In Budget" price
They probably want people to buy the DVD's. That and the show looks very cheap compared to the revived series which is probably more palatable to modern audiences.
The BBC are incredibly thick sometimes unfortunately. The comedians Richard Herring and Stewart Lee made a show for the beeb in the 90s called Fist of Fun. The show was something of a cult hit but the BBC never showed any interest in releasing it on DVD. Lee and Herring have spent quite a bit of time trying to negotiate buying the rights themselves to release on an indie label, but for a long time the BBC refused because, and I roughly quote, "They wouldn't make any money out of it." Exactly how they';d make money with the show just sitting in their archives is anyone's guess...eventually they did sell them the rights but the whole thing seemed ridiculous.
I have a friend who reckons the BBC should put all their back catalogue on iPlayer given that we're (UK) all paid for it once already!
Well there does seem to be an idea about putting at least some of the archive online, some already is, but yeah, I think it'd be a great idea to open up old shows online, even if there was some advertising.
But you wouldn't have to watch it.
true but none the less its my opinon, no reason I cant post it.
If the BBC reduce the fees, it might help DVDs sales because you would be introducing old Who to a new audience.
