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.

 

[Haggis and tatties]

I meant legally.

Yes, simply do not watch or record any UK live terrestiral TV, you then do not require a TV licence, BUT, the BBC do not really want any household in the UK NOT paying the TV licence even if they do not require one, hence via their Capita thuggies they will harrsas you with never ending threatening letters and knocks on your door by TV licence cold callers who demand you provide proof you are not committing a criminal offence on your door step..........and this is the ongoing mess of the TV licence fee across the UK at present.

Ironically though TV licence cold callers have been somewhat undone by the uptake of the little old doorcam, because before said doorcams they would stand at your door claiming to have the powers of the police, and even in some instannce put their foot in the door if it was say woman on her own or the elderly, but now they can and are being recorded on peoples doorstep, they have had to become what they always were, cold callers selling the TV licence.

 

[Emperor-Tiberius]

None of those publications actually know anything at this point.

I hear ya. I'm just adding to the conversation cause I thought it'd be mentioned here by now.

 

[jaime]

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.

Not unless you’re over 75 or partially sighted (when there is a discount) but then all the news stuff is available for free via different online services.
But then I suppose people always know someone or somewhere they can watch if they need to, pubs (yhe few that are left) for instance.

It’s rare I have heard someone who genuinely can’t afford a license complain about it or its price, usually it comes along with political or ideological views about the BBC when people are doing so.

Enforcement is a whole topic of its own though.

 

[Timelord79 (he/him)]

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.

I am not from the UK, nut I know "The Sun" has... a reputation.

 

[jaime]

I am not from the UK, nut I know "The Sun" has... a reputation.

Problem is, it has more than one reputation. (I.e sometimes it gets things right, and historically it’s known to be very much behind the show.)