US EditionWhy Disney Ditched ‘Doctor Who’: Sources Say Ratings, Big Ticket Budget & MAGA Politics Were Factors In BBC Deal Failing To Regenerate
The BBC will reduce Doctor Who's budget by about half after ending Disney's co-production due to the show's limited U.S. success and high costs, sources say.
- On Tuesday, the BBC confirmed its co‑production pact with Disney had vaporized, ending quietly as Disney did not issue a statement and both parties declined comment.
- Sources say the deal unraveled because the Gatwa seasons failed to break out and Disney later scaled back spending after the October 2022 pact amid leadership changes under Bob Iger.
- High per‑episode costs, between �6M and �8M, strained commercial prospects as Season 15 averaged 3.8M viewers and the BBC plans to spend �2.5M to �3M per episode.
- Committing to a Christmas special still 15 months away buys the BBC breathing room as Season 15 ended with Ncuti Gatwa regenerating into Billie Piper's Rose Tyler and Russell T Davies is not guaranteed beyond current plans.
- Some insiders see Disney's pullback as a chance to reset funding and distribution, but finding another U.S. buyer will be tough, with piecemeal European and Latin American sales challenging a British show.
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17 Articles
The Independent
The Independent (US)Doctor Who’s Disney deal was a doomed experiment – where does the BBC go from here?
The BBC’s deal with the US streaming service is over, and other than a promised Christmas episode next year, the future of the sci-fi series is shrouded in uncertainty. But ‘Doctor Who’ is indicative of a broader quandary at the BBC, writes Fiona Sturges
Why Disney Ditched ‘Doctor Who’: Sources Say Ratings, Big Ticket Budget & MAGA Politics Were Factors In BBC Deal Failing To Regenerate
The BBC confirmed on Tuesday that its 'Doctor Who' co-production deal with Disney had vaporized. What went wrong on the series starring Ncuti Gatwa?
Doctor Who returns to BBC control without Disney backing
If you're a sci-fi fan who's been boycotting Disney+ due to Disney's cowardly response to Trump's fascistic bullying, there's good news: you can return to a beloved show guilt-free. According to Gizmodo, Disney+ has ended its partnership with the BBC on Doctor Who. — Read the rest The post Doctor Who returns to BBC control without Disney backing appeared first on Boing Boing.
Report: The ‘Doctor Who’ Disney Deal Was Doomed by Bad Ratings, Big Budgets, and Backlash Fears - WorldNL Magazine
It’s been an odd few years for Doctor Who, from riding on the high of its 60th anniversary heralding a splashy new partnership with Disney to bring the series around the world (and with a much bigger budget) to this week’s news that said deal had undramatically fizzled out after just two seasons, with the show not making a return until a 2026 Christmas special. But a new report suggests that the BBC’s deal with the House of Mouse may have been d…
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