Summary
All 800 preserved episodes of Doctor Who, dating back to the show’s debut in 1963, will be available on BBC iPlayer for the first time ever. This move by the BBC is a big deal for the franchise, as it allows them to make their own streaming service more appealing and take control of the classic episodes. The inclusion of previously disputed episodes and tie-in materials on iPlayer provides a chance for viewers to revisit essential classic stories ahead of the show’s 60th anniversary celebration.
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All 800 available Doctor Who episodes will stream on the BBC iPlayer in time for the celebration of its 60th anniversary. The long-running sci-fi series first made its debut on November 23, 1963. Returning star David Tennant will take on the role of the new, enigmatic Fourteenth Doctor across three specials that will air in November and celebrate the show’s upcoming milestone.
Ahead of Doctor Who’s 60th anniversary specials, the official Doctor Who website has declared that nearly every episode since the show began in 1963 will be available on the BBC iPlayer for the first time ever. All 800 preserved episodes dating back to the First Doctor’s debut in “An Unearthly Child” to the Thirteenth Doctor’s regeneration in “The Power of the Doctor” will be viewable for UK audiences on November 1, alongside spin-offs The Sarah Jane Adventures, Torchwood, and Class. A number of tie-in programs including behind-the-scenes series Doctor Who: Confidential will also be made available for viewers.
Why Doctor Who’s New iPlayer Home Is A Big Deal For The Franchise
While the BBC has utilized Doctor Who as a key draw for iPlayer ever since the service was rebranded for the streaming era, its classic run has never been fully shared there. Netflix held the rights to stream the classic episodes for some time before they were added to Britbox alongside a number of Doctor Who-related shows developed for the 50th anniversary, including making-of drama An Adventure In Space and Time. However, with BritBox falling under new ownership and facing a rebranding, it is clear the BBC is using this opportunity to make its own service more appealing.
Furthermore, while its spin-offs gradually found their way to the service, there are certain Doctor Who entries wrapped in other disputes that prevented them from appearing on streaming. The 1996 Paul McGann-led TV movie Doctor Who and Torchwood season 4 were previously stuck in disputes with the BBC and their collaborators, while licensed music copyright issues complicated Doctor Who: Confidential’s streaming. With all issues seemingly solved, it will be a relief for many to see every adventure in space and time available in one place.
With the classic era and tie-in materials joining iPlayer alongside the revival and spin-offs, the platform’s Doctor Who library can offer viewers a chance to revisit essential classic stories ahead of the 60th anniversary. Furthermore, with Doctor Who set to stream internationally on Disney+ for the 60th anniversary and season 14, it could be that the resolved issues will allow for previous episodes to join that service for viewers outside the UK, though whether that will happen so far remains unclear.
Source: Doctor Who