Russell T. Davies Returns to Doctor Who as New Showrunner

[jaime]

Interesting, as it doesn’t state that Who is most profitable, or even profitable — just that it and Bluey are key brands. (It’s lost a few over the years. The eggs are increasingly smaller and very much in very few baskets) It also talks about Britbox International, which must have been hived off as they are no longer involved in Britbox, as that has been absorbed into ITVX.
BBC Studios itself is interesting, as it’s increasingly a thing separating itself from the BBC proper, which seems hell-bent on becoming just some sort of legacy umbrella brand.
They *could* consider charging for ‘iPlayer but without a TV license’ but they don’t have a strong history — I liked the briefly existing BBC Store (sort of… BBC ITunes) but they mishandled it terribly, and handled its shutdown poorly as well.
I’m not sure they quite know what to do with themselves, and the transmogrification of the nineties (and the rise of ‘independents’) has turned out to have a sting in its tail for what remains of the actual BBC, and not its various part-owned offspring.

As to Who itself?
I don’t think it’s as strong a brand as it was ten years ago, or even twenty years ago. In terms of profitability, it’s not even as strong as it was in the wilderness years I suspect. (Truly a halcyon time for that I suppose — it made money without having to be, well, made.)
It needs to re-inveigle itself into the public consciousness in a positive manner, which it isn’t really doing at the moment.

 

[oktay]

As to Who itself?
I don’t think it’s as strong a brand as it was ten years ago, or even twenty years ago. In terms of profitability, it’s not even as strong as it was in the wilderness years I suspect. (Truly a halcyon time for that I suppose — it made money without having to be, well, made.)
It needs to re-inveigle itself into the public consciousness in a positive manner, which it isn’t really doing at the moment.

The deal with Disney could be profitable for BBC. But I think the real key point here is that it is one of the key intellectual properties for BBC. Disney's viewership is probably low. The reason for this is that old episodes of modern series, classic series and old spin-offs are not uploaded to Disney Plus. Since the US cares about it, it is broadcasted on BBC iPlayer in England at night and then it comes on BBC 1 the next night, which lowers the TV ratings. This is not good for BBC.

If Disney pulls out of the deal, they could probably make a deal with AMC, which will buy BBC America, for BBC America or AMC Plus, with a lower budget. They could also make a deal with Netflix internationally to cover the budget of the TV series.

 

[oktay]

I don't know what their budgets were during the Matt Smith, Peter Capaldi and Jodie Whittaker eras. But they look pretty good. BBC America (or AMC Plus) and Netflix can also afford those budgets.

 

[Marc]

BBC definitely wants to continue. Even if Disney withdraws, BBC can continue. Again, with low budgets, I think they can give BBC America license, which they plan to sell to AMC for the USA, and make a deal with Netflix for the international. By making a deal that will cover all the old TV series of the franchise. BBC has clearly stated that it will not make any TV series without an international broadcaster.

Guess part of it would come down to whether all the production infrastructure that's been setup in the deal with the mouse can be kept or Disney says "it ours, get your own"

 

[oktay]

Guess part of it would come down to whether all the production infrastructure that's been setup in the deal with the mouse can be kept or Disney says "it ours, get your own"

It already belongs to the BBC, Disney just provides them with a budget and distributes it internationally. Think of it like CBS's deal with Netflix for Star Trek Discovery before Paramount.

 

[The Nth Doctor]

Here's a controversial take: I'm absolutely fine with Doctor Who returning to its low budget roots, even welcome it, as long as the stories and characters remain engaging.

 

[oktay]

Here's a controversial take: I'm absolutely fine with Doctor Who returning to its low budget roots, even welcome it, as long as the stories and characters remain engaging.

If the modern series you're talking about is like the early ones, probably $1.5 million per episode with puppets, then no, they won't be back. I think there will probably be a return to the budgets and visuals of Matt Smith's, Peter Capaldi's (first 2 seasons) and Jodie Whittaker's seasons. There were claims that the budgets of the new episodes after the special episodes in 2023 were $10 million per episode. RTD said "we don't have that much budget but we still have a good budget." In other words, they may have financed Disney cheaply compared to Star Wars TV shows. If that's the case, it was leaked that AMC's last The Walking Dead TV shows were $13 million per episode. It was announced that Netflix spent $100 million on Wednesday Season 2. Netflix and AMC can also provide the budget Disney provided. Also, I don't think RTD would want to do this job with a low budget again.

 

[oktay]

We don't know yet if Disney is happy with this deal. If they are, they will expand the deal to the entire franchise or if they are not happy, like I said, they will make a deal with AMC Network and Netflix.

 

[The Nth Doctor]

If the modern series you're talking about is like the early ones, probably $1.5 million per episode with puppets, then no, they won't be back. I think there will probably be a return to the budgets and visuals of Matt Smith's, Peter Capaldi's (first 2 seasons) and Jodie Whittaker's seasons. There were claims that the budgets of the new episodes after the special episodes in 2023 were $10 million per episode. RTD said "we don't have that much budget but we still have a good budget." In other words, they may have financed Disney cheaply compared to Star Wars TV shows. If that's the case, it was leaked that AMC's last The Walking Dead TV shows were $13 million per episode. It was announced that Netflix spent $100 million on Wednesday Season 2. Netflix and AMC can also provide the budget Disney provided. Also, I don't think RTD would want to do this job with a low budget again.

I'm talking classic series budget. I don't care how pretty things are as long as the stories and characters are engaging.

Besides, low budget is part of the Doctor Who charm.

 

[oktay]

I'm talking classic series budget. I don't care how pretty things are as long as the stories and characters are engaging.

Besides, low budget is part of the Doctor Who charm.

I haven't watched the classic series, but I get what you mean. They can't make it in 2025 with the episode budgets of the seasons made in the 70s and 80s.

 

[Emperor-Tiberius]

To me, its always seemed like the BBC never has shown the show almost any of the respect it richly deserves, and that's why we're getting nonsensical gaps and what not. Time to stop fucking about and give it the attention it deserves.

 

[Samurai8472]

Reputable contacts on GB are saying the Disney deal has fallen through and Sony may be funding series three

 

[oktay]

Reputable contacts on GB are saying the Disney deal has fallen through and Sony may be funding series three

Source?

 

[Emperor-Tiberius]

Also, do those reputable sources disclose the reason the Disney deal has fallen through? I can't imagine they'd drop the show just like that.

 

[matthunter]

Reputable contacts on GB

 

[jaime]

I haven't watched the classic series, but I get what you mean. They can't make it in 2025 with the episode budgets of the seasons made in the 70s and 80s.

Inflation adjusted they sort of could. Especially the seventies era. (Eighties.. no. They starved it of resources.) The problem is, more of the money made it on screen back then because everything was in-house and wages were cheaper than expectations would be these days. Especially for the lead role.

 

[Rich Watson]

Reputable contacts on GB are saying the Disney deal has fallen through and Sony may be funding series three

Define "reputable".

I wouldn't be shocked at either part, but Sony don't have a streaming service so it would need to be sold to someone else.

 

[oktay]

Define "reputable".

I wouldn't be shocked at either part, but Sony don't have a streaming service so it would need to be sold to someone else.

In case Disney withdraws, as I said above. It would be better if they make a budget or distribution deal with AMC Network, which will buy BBC America, and Netflix. They can also make a deal with Amazon. But whoever they make a deal with, they should make it by including classic series, old modern series, and spin-offs. I think the reason why Disney's viewership is low is because there are no old TV shows.

 

[jaime]

Define "reputable".

I wouldn't be shocked at either part, but Sony don't have a streaming service so it would need to be sold to someone else.

They did have streaming (and in some areas, still do) and also own a few TV Channels around the world.

They don’t have an overall brand Sony streaming service that I am aware of in the UK mind you, and nothing worldwide on the scale of Disney.

 

[JD]

BBC definitely wants to continue. Even if Disney withdraws, BBC can continue. Again, with low budgets, I think they can give BBC America license, which they plan to sell to AMC for the USA, and make a deal with Netflix for the international. By making a deal that will cover all the old TV series of the franchise. BBC has clearly stated that it will not make any TV series without an international broadcaster.

BBC already sold it's last 50% of BBC America back in November.
BBCA did just start reairing showing "Best of Tennant and Smith" Doctor Who episodes, so that could show they still have some interest in it. But on the other hand, if they were really wanted it, they probably would already worked harder to keep it in on there before Disney got ahold of it.