Spoilers Russell T. Davies Returns to Doctor Who as New Showrunner

[jaime]

BBC Posts Income of $7.2 Billion, but Frozen License Fee, High Operating Costs Cause Deficit

The BBC has posted a record income of $7.2 billion, but is in deficit thanks to a frozen license fee and high operating costs.

variety.com

This is from the 2023/2024 report from the BBC, which you can download...

On yhe plus side, they’re gonna save money on Lineker going forward, and an expensive newsreader too…

It’s such a mess.
They were better off at TV centre. I don’t think Studios has been a roaring success either.

 

[BillJ]

On yhe plus side, they’re gonna save money on Lineker going forward, and an expensive newsreader too…

It’s such a mess.
They were better off at TV centre. I don’t think Studios has been a roaring success either.

Skimming through the report, it looks like they have a solid cash reserve, but admitted that the TV license fees growing with inflation was less than they were projecting.

As a side note, that is some dystopian shit that you have to have a license to watch TV.

 

[Mr Awe]

BBC has in the past shown heavy reluctance to change showrunners. They begged and pleaded RTD to stay the first time and even considered ending the show when that didn't work. They did successfully persuade Moffat into staying after he declared his intention to leave. And they were going to end the show when Chibnall left until RTD returned to the fold in the eleventh hour. RTD's not going anywhere unless he chooses to do so.

Agreed. He's not going anywhere unless he wants to.

 

[jaime]

Skimming through the report, it looks like they have a solid cash reserve, but admitted that the TV license fees growing with inflation was less than they were projecting.

As a side note, that is some dystopian shit that you have to have a license to watch TV.

Most countries do. It’s just not always as overt and transparent as the BbC. Usually paid for by general taxation. It’s an irony that having a nominally state control media corp once actually led to better creative freedoms.
I think it’s because it stands separate from the interference that comes with a symbiotic or parasitical relationship with money and power.

Theoretically, in a democracy, even a ‘state’ broadcaster is going to have to remain as neutral as possible, because governments change. Perhaps it’s something that works best in weird constitutional monarchies xD

 

[BillJ]

Most countries do. It’s just not always as overt and transparent as the BbC. Usually paid for by general taxation. It’s an irony that having a nominally state control media corp once actually led to better creative freedoms.
I think it’s because it stands separate from the interference that comes with a symbiotic or parasitical relationship with money and power.

Theoretically, in a democracy, even a ‘state’ broadcaster is going to have to remain as neutral as possible, because governments change. Perhaps it’s something that works best in weird constitutional monarchies xD

Americans would push the transmitters into the ocean.

I guess from a non-humorous POV. Are there ways for poorer people to get around having the license? Seems like an unnecessary burden for some folks to access basic things like the news.

 

[Chaos Descending]

Are there ways for poorer people to get around having the license?

Yes.

 

[BillJ]

Yes.

I meant legally.

 

[The Wormhole]

Anyone know when the spinoff is supposed to air?

Officially, an airdate has not been announced. However, this post posted in this thread back in January which includes a chart of Disney+ shows for 2025 places it between the Percy Jackson and the Olympians S2 and Marvel's Wonder Man, both of which are confirmed to have December premieres, implying The War Between Land and Sea will also premiere in December.

 

[Nerys Myk]

Officially, an airdate has not been announced. However, this post posted in this thread back in January which includes a chart of Disney+ shows for 2025 places it between the Percy Jackson and the Olympians S2 and Marvel's Wonder Man, both of which are confirmed to have December premieres, implying The War Between Land and Sea will also premiere in December.

So 2025 as promised, but barely.

 

[Emperor-Tiberius]

So some publications do insist that Billie Piper will not only be in a one-off appearance, but it will also feature, once again, David Tennant as the Doctor. Presumably as the Fourteenth Doctor, to properly have him regenerate into the Sixteenth Doctor.

Look, at this point, I'd just have him be Fourteenth Doctor for a whole series. Sounds extreme, sure, but the above also does, so at least get a series out of it with the most visibly popular Doctor Who since Tom Baker, and easily the most of NuWho.

 

[Jayson1]

Tennant back as a regular would be good. Bring back Missy as his companion. Create a really cool new alien race for the bad guys.

 

[Chaos Descending]

So some publications do insist that Billie Piper will not only be in a one-off appearance, but it will also feature, once again, David Tennant as the Doctor. Presumably as the Fourteenth Doctor, to properly have him regenerate into the Sixteenth Doctor.

None of those publications actually know anything at this point.