SOMETHING’S FISHY ON DISNEY+!
The Real Reason Global Doctor Who Fans Are Stranded Until 2027
For the past few years, global Doctor Who fans have enjoyed a golden era of television parity . . .
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The Fan Backlash . . . “It’s Like the 1990s all over again”
The delay has caused immense frustration, particularly in the US and Australia, where fans have had to dodge internet spoilers for months. Speaking exclusively to Radio Times, Russell Tovey didn’t hold back, comparing the gap to the pre-internet era. . .
“It feels like we’ve gone back to the ’90s with this. I remember in the ’90s, you’d go to Blockbuster and there’d be a film out in America and you’d have to wait like six months until it came out in the UK… Like, we’ve got it here, and they have to wait.” [Radio Times]
If you refuse to wait until 2027 to watch Kate Lethbridge-Stewart face off against the Sea Devils, you don’t have to. International fans have the option of buying the physical DVD or Blu-ray directly from UK outlets.
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- The Region Code Trap: UK Blu-rays are traditionally encoded for Region B. They will not play on standard North American (Region A) Blu-ray players or standard home gaming consoles.
- The Solution: To watch the UK disc, you will need a Region-Free (Multi-Region) Blu-ray player. Alternatively, standard DVDs are frequently Region 0 (All Region), but you will sacrifice high-definition quality.
- Where to Buy: Verified UK retailers that ship globally include Amazon UK and specialist media exporters like Rarewaves.
Who Will the BBC Partner with Next?
With the House of Mouse officially exiting the Whoniverse after 2027, BBC Studios is already looking for its next big financial backer. Producing high-end sci-fi on a BBC budget alone is unsustainable, making a new co-production partner inevitable. Who is at the top of the wishlist?
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- Sony Pictures Television: This is the most logical choice. Sony bought a majority stake in Bad Wolf (the production company behind Doctor Who) back in 2021. Because Sony already controls the physical production pipeline of the show, expanding their role to global distribution would streamline the entire operation.
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- Netflix: The streaming giant is always hungry for established, reliable IP with a built-in global fanbase. While Netflix likes to own its content completely, a pure distribution deal similar to their past arrangements with Black Mirror or Better Call Saul outside the UK could work perfectly.
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- Amazon Prime Video: Amazon has proven they are willing to spend massive amounts of money on established sci-fi and fantasy brands (such as The Lord of the Rings and Fallout).
- If they want a reliable, family-friendly anchor for their streaming service, outbidding competitors for Doctor Who would be a major coup.
