The way we consume TV has changed. Streaming, binge viewing, iPlayer etc. I rarely watch live telly. But I do think as its a UK show, however it is chosen to be broadcast UK viewers should be prioritised.
10 Likes
If I wasnāt moderator on the Doctor Who Discord server, Iād say screw it and just watch it when I get up, but to mod effectively Iāll want to watch it on drop.
4 Likes
I mean, even if the show itself takes a hiatus, weāre getting another show in the meantime!
4 Likes
Which is why the UK still has the normal TV time, where everywhere else Iām pretty sure only has Disney Plus. Earlier streaming drop over there is just another option added. This change actually gives the UK fewer options of when to watch on the Saturday, only 16/24 hours on the day rather than the entire 24 hour period that is the Saturday, while at the same time making it a worse drop time with a more typical US streaming schedule (midnight Pacific is fairly standard). I donāt understand the choice.
3 Likes
8 in the morning?
Very interesting decisionā¦
At least I wonāt have to get annoyed that loads of other people have already watched it.
But Iām a bit confused.
Will it be going out live at 8 too, or am I just reading the article wrong?
4 Likes
I think itās just iPlayer at 8am with the typical evening broadcast still in place
5 Likes
The previous season was available on Friday on Disney plus due to timezone differences, then broadcast in its regular BBC Saturday evening slot. I know technically it was on the iPlayer from midnight but it wasnāt a good look to casual viewers seeing the promotion of it with Disney on the previous day.
4 Likes
iPlayer availability. So similar to last time but pushed from midnight to 8am GMT.
5 Likes
(This is not going to be agreed with by those who have strong attachment to routine and schedule, but thatās not the norm, Iām talking more generally here). But itās not like staying up to watch something from midnight to 1 on a Saturday morning if one wanted to was unreasonable, with people generally not having work or school on Saturdays, or they could watch when they got up, or they could wait until BBC One, they had infinite options on Saturday. Midnight UK was a win-win for both sides of the pond and Australia (late morning on a Saturday Iād think being fairly convenient for Australia, they can correct me if Iām wrong). To me this seems like inconveniencing a big portion of the audience and taking away an option for the home (UK) audience.
6 Likes
Well they must have changed it for a reason.
I donāt know if anyone was crying out for a midnight option? 
4 Likes
Iām glad they changed it, hated midnight so much (1am for me!!!) but this still isnāt great. Just go back to how it always was, evening!!
4 Likes
Any option where it drops online before the UK broadcast feels wrong on principle, and like itās kneecapping the UK viewing figures
10 Likes
But doesnāt iPlayer also count in the viewing figures? Wouldnāt it be the same numbers, just shifted to more people on iPlayer than live TV?
5 Likes
The ratings all get accumulated eventually anyway, from broadcast and iPlayer, etc. Overnights and āliveā ratings donāt really matter in the way they once did. And in a timey wimey turn of events, the iPlayer drop technically is āthe UK broadcastā now - itās just that it also airs later in the day on TV.
Iām grateful itās still this way, and not a complete series drop on iPlayer while the BBC broadcasts 1 episode per week (as some shows do)!
10 Likes
Itās a British show originally, yes, but itās grown so much beyond being just a British show. And Doctor Who should always maintain its Britishness in the show that is made, which hasnāt changed. I just donāt think having to prioritize normal TV airing in the UK is a good decision or sustainable anymore. Streaming focus and a more international watchability focus is a necessary change for Doctor Who to succeed in todayās streaming world. I think the midnight UK was the best compromise there, with 8am UK being just a little bit worse in that regard.
6 Likes
Iām just glad I wonāt have people complaining about it being a better time for the US now that itās a bad time for both the US and the UK.
Though I suspect the time means the release is being handled by a server in PST this time, so probably actually in the US or Canada.
6 Likes
āsometimes Credits can have extra information, or a joke. Thereās a detail in this yearās Ep 2 Credits (and kept out of Billings) thatās a really lovely thing.ā
RTD in DWM
9 Likes
Two new tidbits, someone got an early copy of DWM and then a new casting leak for S2, I LOOOOVED him in Cucumber. Lots of eye candy in S2
https://x.com/NotAgnor/status/1894783212670378083
6 Likes
The streaming bubble is at bursting point though. BBC is a public broadcaster so Iām not sure how they rate success. This is where the difference between BBC & Disney shows, Disney as a streaming only platform is probably more concerned with ratings.
Anyway, it seems like 8am is in keeping with when Disney+ usually drop shows for UK audiences.
It still is a British show.
11 Likes
So, if Alan Cumming is in season 2, does that mean weāre getting King James back? Maybe he heads into the TARDIS looking for Ryan?
6 Likes