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Disney Secures ‘Doctor Who’ for Latest Disney+ Subscriber Push

Doctor Who Disney Plus

One of the Western World’s biggest fandoms outside of the Disney Umbrella will have a new home on Disney+. In 2023, the beloved British Sci-Fi show Doctor Who will begin streaming new episodes on Disney+ for global viewers, while the BBC will continue to broadcast the show for viewers in the United Kingdom and Ireland.

BBC states,

The BBC and Disney Branded Television – two giants of entertainment – have come together to transform Doctor Who into a global franchise for UK audiences and the rest of the world. 

Under a shared creative vision, they will deliver this quintessentially British show to future generations on an unprecedented scale with Disney+ as the exclusive home for new seasons of Doctor Who outside the UK and Ireland.

Doctor Who BBC

Credit: BBC

“We are thrilled to announce this exciting global partnership with Disney who are the perfect partners to bring this very British show to the rest of the world,” remarked Charlotte Moore, Chief Content Officer at BBC, “Russell T Davies’ vision for Doctor Who has always been out of this world and we are committed to ensuring that audiences across the globe get the opportunity to enjoy the Doctor’s epic adventures with the scale and ambition that they deserve. Joining forces with Disney will elevate the show to even greater heights and reach new audiences so it’s an extremely exciting time for fans in the UK and across the world.”

Doctor Who began in 1963 with William Hartnell as the first Doctor and ran continuously through the 80s with six other actors taking on the title role. After being canceled in 1989, a TV movie was made in an attempt to revive the series with Paul McGann, but it would not regain its full traction with viewers until 2005 with Christopher Eccleston. Since that relaunch, the Doctor has been played by the likes of David Tennant, Peter Capaldi, and Jodi Whittaker.

The new season launching in late 2023, will be helmed by the man credited for the show’s revival in 2005, Russell T Davies, and a new Doctor in control of the TARDIS, Ncuti Gatwa. While the new series is set to premiere on The Walt Disney Company’s flagship streaming service, it is unclear if any of the previous seasons will be made available for streaming as well.

Doctor Who

Credit: BBC

“We’re excited by the opportunity to bring new seasons of this beloved franchise exclusively to Disney+ and introduce the show to the next generation of audiences in more than 150 markets around the world,” said Alisa Bowen, President of Disney+. “The series is a perfect addition to our ever-growing catalog of global content that continues to make Disney+ the home for exceptional storytelling.”

“Doctor Who has captivated the imaginations of families around the world for the past six decades,” said Ayo Davis, President of Disney Branded Television. “We are so excited about this collaboration with the BBC, and the opportunity to bring this iconic franchise – and Russell T Davies’ brilliant vision – to life for a huge new global audience. Grab your sonic screwdrivers and prepare to travel through time and space!”

Disney Plus

Credit: Disney

This could be a big win for The Walt Disney Company as it works to reach CEO Bob Chapek’s goal of hitting 230-260 million Disney+ subscribers by the end of its fiscal 2024. Disney+ will launch an ad-based subscription tier by the end of this year.

We at Disney Fanatic will continue to update our readers on Disney+ news and stories as more developments come to light.

About T.K. Bosacki

Born and raised in Tampa, Florida, TK Bosacki is a professional writer, amateur adventurer, and lifelong Disney Fanatic. His Disney Park days include Space Mountain, Tower of Terror, Kilimanjaro Safaris, and Nomad Lounge. He believes in starting at the Canada pavilion (IYKYK), and the Monorail is superior to all Ferry Boats.

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