Looking to expand their streaming library, Disney reportedly opened talks with the British Broadcasting Company (BBC) to acquire the global streaming rights to Doctor Who. The move is to add the venerable sci-fi brand to Disney+, increasing their non-Marvel/Star Wars/Disney branded fare to the streaming service.
Talks are only preliminary. There is no guarantee that they will go anywhere. An anonymous source leaked the news. Disney reportedly wants global streaming rights while the series continues to air on the BBC. The deal appears to only be for streaming rights, not an attempt to purchase the show creatively.
No word if the Mouse House is looking to acquire the show’s total catalog of over 34 seasons or just focus on the show’s 21st-century revival. In the United States, HBOMax streams Nu-Who. That consists of everything that has been produced since the 2005 relaunch of the series. Britbox, a smaller streamer, currently has the show’s classic period (1963-1989) and is a cornerstone of the service’s programming. Britbox has also made some episodes available through PlutoTV, a free-to-stream service. PlutoTV has a dedicated Doctor Who channel that airs stories with commercials. It also has some episodes available on demand (also with ads).
The BBC is quite protective of its global brands, and Doctor Who is one of its biggest sellers. The series is likely to raise its profile this year, making the brand appealing to Disney. The current Doctor, Jodie Whitaker, will be departing the show this fall in a special episode airing as part of the BBC’s centennial celebrations. Russell T. Davies, the man who brought Doctor Who back to TV in 2005, returns to serve as showrunner. Ncuti Gatwa takes over the role of the Doctor in 2023. But before he gets the keys to the TARDIS, David Tennant and Catherine Tate return to star in a special celebrating the show’s 60th anniversary in 2023.
