Here’s an early Christmas present for “Doctor Who” fans (at least those in America).
If you’re excited that the United States gets to see “A Christmas Carol” on the same day it airs in the UK, get ready to get used to it.
According to CNN, the BBC And BBC America are in conversations to air new episodes of “Doctor Who” on the same day in both the UK and the US.
Fans have been doing this since the new series started using the Internet. And the BBC is aware of it and working to help fans watch episodes legally.
“(It) means fans love the shows so much they can’t wait to see them,” says vice president of programming at BBC America, Richard de Croce. “And that’s the world we live in, in terms of technology, quite honestly. So let’s air these shows as quickly as we can post the UK’s transmission. Plans are in the works for season six of “Doctor Who” to be broadcast the same day in the United States as well.”
Merry Christmas, “Doctor Who” fans!
Jayson says
It’s about time someone in TV started to catch up to the Internet. Honestly, I would prefer to watch TV shows on TV instead of the Internet. Not necessarily for ethic or moral reasons, TV is just more convenient. It amazes me it took someone this long to realize that the Internet is still around and it is legitimate competition. Anyway, I’m looking forward to the Christmas special tonight.
Calysta Rose says
This makes me very, very happy! I really hope this happens because I too would prefer to watch it on my television.
Chuck Tomasi says
Rockin’ cool! Heck yeah it’s about time. Someone finally wised up and realized the hard core fans aren’t going to wait and they’d lose that viewership. C’mon, be honest. Did you stick around and wait for it to be on TV after you got it from your “secret Santa”? Me neither.
Will says
This is great news. I always waited because I don’t want to pirate. Now I won’t be behind and get spoiled. Now people won’t have an excuse unless they don’t have BBC America
David Hill says
Now if they did that for the rest of the World I will be happy!
Mich67 says
Fantastic news…I hate waiting…the temptation to just watch them on the internet is often too much for me and I’d prefer to see them on the TV.. Now if it would catch on for all the other great British shows like Being Human, Primeval, and Merlin I would be blown away.
Tammy Smith says
I watch it on the internet *and* when BBCA airs it!:p
Arkle says
Wow. This awesome. I would’ve been willing to settle for the following day. 😉
Morgothik says
That is great news. It’s much more convenient. But I still have the problem that Directv doesn’t have BBC America in HD!
fuzzbutt says
Sweet! sick of waiting a week while my bro sees it a week before i do.
TallGrrl says
Caught a “flight to the UK” (brrr! cold and snowy!!) and saw the show.
Loved it!!!
Sharks are cool!
(I’ll say no more…)
VyseN1 says
About time. Now I will not have to make “special trips to the UK”.
TallGrrl says
As far as being in talks to air the show the same day as in the UK, you know what they’re trying to do is figure out how to get the show, *chop it up to insert commercials* for the American market, and then air it on the same day.
TallGrrl says
And, am I the only one here who’d rather make “special trips to the UK” so I don’t have to have my show interrupted by commercials that take me out of the flow of the story?
Just wonderin’.
Calysta Rose says
I’ve a friend who “flew to England” to watch and offered me a ticket too. So it’s not that I didn’t have that option. But I waited for it to air on BBC America and watched it then. It was great. I would prefer to not have commercials, I feel that way about every show really, but I willingly tolerate them in exchange for seeing the show on my television on the same day it airs in the UK.
Robin says
Please pardon my capslock, but…
AAAAAAHHHH!!!! THIS IS SO EXCITING!!!!!
I felt really bad about illegally streaming Torchwood: CoE, but I just couldn’t bear to wait the extra three weeks (while trying to avoid spoilers on my regularly scheduled fandom sites) to find out what would happen. And I did, of course, put myself through the terror and heartache all over again when it aired on BBCA. And then watched it repeatedly On Demand and bought the DVDs on release day.
I’m glad that The Beeb, at least, is trying to give its viewership what we’ve been waiting for. I’m sure it’s costing BBCA more than it used to, but it will undoubtedly gain them a lot of eyeballs that have previously been straying to computer screens instead.