Doctor Who is officially heading to Disney Plus outside of the UK and Ireland from 2023.
New seasons of the beloved British sci-fi series have previously aired overseas on networks including BBC America, AMC and ABC, but the BBC has announced (opens in a new tab) bold new plans to partner with Disney Branded Television in an effort to "turn Doctor Who into a global franchise. The series also received a shiny new logo to commemorate the union.
The BBC will remain the exclusive home of Doctor Who in the UK and Ireland, but the new episodes, coming in late 2023, will be simulcast on Disney Plus in the US and Australia.
A new logo for a new era! Doctor Who returns in 2023 on @BBC in the UK and @DisneyPlus worldwide
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The series' returning showrunner, Russell T Davies, said in a statement (opens in new tab) accompanying the news: "I love this show and it's the best of both worlds, with the vision and joy of the BBC and Disney". Plus, together we can launch the TARDIS across the globe, reaching a new generation of fans while firmly maintaining our traditional home at the BBC in the UK."
Doctor Who has been an (almost) constant fixture on British television since 1963, and Sex Education star Ncuti Gatwa is set to inherit the title of Time Lord from Jodie Whittaker, or strictly speaking, David Tennant (that's a long story). , in the next special episodes of the series' 60th anniversary.
Now, for the first time, these new episodes will debut in more than 150 territories across Europe, Asia, Africa and the Americas simultaneously. The latest total number of subscribers reported by Disney Plus was 152,1 million.
“We are thrilled with the opportunity to bring new seasons of this beloved franchise exclusively to Disney Plus,” said Alisa Bowen, President of Streamers. "is a perfect addition to our ever-growing catalog of global content that continues to make Disney Plus the place for exceptional storytelling."
It's certainly a huge success for Disney, whose streaming service, despite its success, has been criticized for overemphasizing shows and movies based on its most successful names. Sure, Disney Plus is great if you love Marvel movies and Star Wars TV shows, but what's in it for everyone?
Now at least Disney Plus has another big advantage in its franchise cap to attract new subscribers and, more importantly, retain existing ones. The topsy-turvy year Netflix has endured so far has likely warned the on-demand entertainment giants not to rest on their laurels, and Disney is clearly taking steps to avoid entering an equally precarious period.