This Week In Doctor Who - February 5, 2003
(posted 5th Feb 2003, 12:19pm - TWIDW post #0141)

THIS WEEK IN DOCTOR WHO - February 5, 2003
by Benjamin F. Elliott
Vol 6, No 6
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/thisweekindoctorwho
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UK - Have you noticed anything strange about the McCoy stories on UK Gold? The music overpowering the dialogue in Ghost Light - more than usual? Music missing from The Curse of Fenric? It seems that at least some of the stereo Doctor Who stories from the last 2 Doctor Who seasons have aired on UK Gold with only the left channel elements, leaving out the right channel elements. It's not your TV.

South Africa - If you missed the airings of the 1996 Doctor Who TV Movie on the South African Sci-Fi Channel http://www.uk.scifi.com/ in December and January, mark your calendar in March. Doctor Who will air on Sunday 2 March 8:00 to 9:30PM, Late Friday 7 March 12:35 to 2:05AM, and Saturday 8 March 6:30 to 8PM. The {c[128=UK Sci-Fi Channel}}, owned by the same people, has not scheduled Doctor Who to air in February or March.

Most US Doctor Who news this week seems to involve satellite dishes.

Boston, MA area - If you subscribe to Dish Network and have the Boston local channel package, tune in to channel 8781 (or 11, depending on your receiver). WENH 11 (New Hampshire Public TV) has finally been added to the Boston local channel package. Anyone with the Boston package who has 2 dishes should be able to see WENH - probably including areas that could never get NHPTV over the air or on cable before. New Hampshire Public TV has recently upgraded Doctor Who to Saturdays at 11PM Eastern Time, but discontinued the late Thursday broadcast. 2 episodes per week. As of this writing, WENH has not made it onto the DirecTV local channel package. WLED 49 (also New Hampshire Public TV) is in the Burlington, VT TV market, but has not been added to Dish's Burlington Locals package.

Cedar Rapids, IA Doctor Who fans can get Iowa Public TV as part of the new Dish Network Cedar Rapids Local package.

KTEH 54 of San Jose is now being uplinked by Dish Network again. As of this writing, KTEH has not been restored to the San Francisco/San Jose Dish Local channels package. If it returns, it will be at its old spot - 8234 or 54. KTEH remains on the DirecTV San Francisco/San Jose Local channels package.

Tyler, TX local channels are now being uplinked by Dish Network, though they are not available to subscribers. The Tyler DMA does not have a PBS station, but KERA 13 can be seen there. KERA 13 airs Doctor Who in movie format late Friday nights (12:30AM starting this week). It is unknown at this time whether Dish will include KERA in the Tyler locals package or not.

Des Moines, IA and Colorado Springs, CO are among the TV markets that DirecTV will expand its local channel service into during the first half of this year. For Des Moines, it means that Doctor Who and other local programming will eventually be available on both major satellite systems. For Colorado Springs, you probably won't get Doctor Who on satellite. K32EO 32 is a low power repeater of KBDI 12 in Denver, and does not qualify for must-carry status. Since there is a full power PBS station in Colorado Springs, DirecTV will probably ignore K32EO as Dish Network has, even though both carry KBDI 12 in Denver.

While I try to keep the column up to date, I do sometimes miss late changes to schedules. If you see TWIDW's information getting out of synch with what your local station is actually airing, let me know ASAP.

Additions and corrections are welcome at thisweekindoctorwho-owner@yahoogroups.com , bfelliott@... , bfelliott3 on AOL IM, or thebfe on Yahoo Messenger. And now, the listings:

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RADIO/INTERNET:

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Fri 7PM EST Interstellar Transmissions
http://www.interstellartransmissions.com
WWNN AM1470 Pompano Beach/Boca Raton, FL (Miami/West Palm Beach, FL)
http://www.wnnhealthtalkradio.com
Joey Reynolds' weekly radio show for sci-fi news and interviews, which can be heard online worldwide. Doctor Who news usually discussed during the show.

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TV:

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UK:

UK Gold http://www.onthebox.com/partner/otb
http://www.telewest.co.uk/flextech/ukgold.htm
Late Fri 1:40-2:55AM, Sat 7:40-9AM GMT Survival movie
The final story of the original TV series. Ace, prodigal child of Perivale, returns home. It is not a cheerful reunion. Her friends are vanishing one by one, and a psychotic cat is lurking the streets. Guest starring the animatronic cat model better known as "Salem" on Sabrina The Teenage Witch.
Late Sat 1:40-3:20AM, Sun 7:20-9AM GMT Spearhead From Space movie
UK Gold's new Doctor Who package begins with the 3rd Doctor era. Meteorites are arriving in clusters in rural England. Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart of U*N*I*T thinks the meteorites are the harbinger of something dangerous. He thinks he may have some evidence when a familiar spaceship disguised as a police box arrives at the scene of the meteorites. The ship is the property of The Doctor, a very strange man. But the occupant of the ship bears no relation to the man he knows, even though he remembers the Brigadier. Could the Doctor have found a way to change his appearance, and get on the Brigadier's nerves more than normal? A new era begins.

UK Gold + 1
Late Fri 2:40-3:55AM GMT Survival movie
See UK Gold for story details.
Late Sat 2:40-4:20AM GMT Spearhead From Space movie
See UK Gold for story details.

Homechoice http://www.homechoice.co.uk
Video On Demand. Now playing:
Robot all 4 pts
The Ark In Space all 4 pts
The Sontaran Experiment both pts

CANADA/USA:

BBC Kids http://www.bbckids.ca
Weeknights 2 episodes Midnight + 4AM EST (9PM + 1AM PST)
Saturday/Sunday complete stories Midnight + 3:30AM EST (9PM + 12:30AM PST)
Wed Planet of Evil pts 3+4 of 4
The Morestrans try to leave the anti-matter world. But someone has smuggled anti-matter aboard, and the world will stop at nothing to keep all the anti-matter where it is. The price to save them all may be to kick somebody off the ship.
Thu Pyramids of Mars pts 1+2 of 4
Fri Pyramids of Mars pts 3+4 of 4
The 4th Doctor and Sarah continue to try to make it back to U*N*I*T. They arrive a tad early - 1911. An Egyptologist accidentally unleashed the power of Sutekh, a being of enormous power. If Sutekh is allowed to escape his prison on Mars, all life may be destroyed.
Sat Horror of Fang Rock all 4 pts
Leela and the 4th Doctor arrive at a lighthouse trapped in unnatural fog. Something is stalking the people at the lighthouse. Paranoia and fatalism run rampant as the number of survivors drops and drops.
Sun The Invisible Enemy all 4 pts
The Doctor's mind is infected by a virus. The virus wants to use the Doctor to lead an army and conquer all life. It's up to Leela and a robotic dog to help the Doctor recover and battle the growing menace.
Mon The Brain of Morbius pts 1+2 of 4
Tue The Brain of Morbius pts 3+4 of 4
The 4th Doctor and Sarah did get back to U*N*I*T, but BBC Kids already aired that story out of order. When the Doctor and Sarah arrive on a desolate world covered in dead spaceships, they find themselves in a turf war between an immortal sisterhood (who wants them dead) and a mad scientist (who wants to slice off the Doctor's head). What secret from Gallifrey's past has put the TARDIS crew in such jeopardy?

Channel numbers in brackets ( ) indicate a digital station that is not on the air. Low power stations do not currently have digital assignments.

NHPTV New Hampshire http://www.nhptv.org
analog 11,49,52
digital 57,48,(49) - not on digital schedule yet
Boston Dish Local 8781,11
Sat 11PM EST The Trial Of A Time Lord pts 3+4 of 14 (The Mysterious Planet pts 3+4)
In court footage, the 6th Doctor's efforts to free the people of Ravalox from the tyranny of Drathro, the Miss Havisham of this collapsing civilization.

WCNY/W59AU Syracuse/Utica, NY http://www.wcny.org
analog 24,59
digital 25-1
Sun 5:30PM EST The Brain of Morbius pt 2 of 4
See BBC Kids for details.

WSKG Binghamton, NY http://www.wskg.com
analog 46
digital (42) - under construction
Sat 11:30PM EST Terror of the Zygons pt 2 of 4
Zygons are living near Loch Ness. And they have the ability to impersonate almost anybody. This time, they will impersonate one of the TARDIS crew.

WQED/WQEX Pittsburgh, PA http://www.wqed.org
analog 13,16
digital 38-1,(26)
Pittsburgh DirecTV Local 13,947
Pittsburgh Dish Local 8136,13
Late Sat Mid EST Enlightenment pt 2 of 4
The Black Guardian tries to drive Turlough insane, as the 5th Doctor and Tegan investigate a most unusual race - in space.

WYBE Philadelphia, PA http://www.wybe.org
analog 35
digital (34) - coming 2003
Philadelphia DirecTV Local 35,909
Philadelphia Dish Local 8162,35
Sat 11PM EST The Armageddon Factor pts 4+5 of 6
The war is over. All that remains is destruction. To buy time, the Doctor and Romana must use the Key To Time. But the key is incomplete. Thankfully, 5/6s of absolute power can be very useful in clever hands.

MPT Maryland http://www.mpt.org
analog 22,67,28,31,62,36
digital 42,(29),(62),(44),(28),(56) - simulcast of analog begins in 2003
DC/Hagerstown & Baltimore DirecTV Local 22,980
Late Sat Mid EST Black Orchid 50 minute movie
In 1925 England, the 5th Doctor, Nyssa, Adric, and Tegan face a rare threat. No aliens. No plots of conquest. Just a secret, a lie, and a hidden room. Tragedy may be about to strike.

WCET Cincinnati, OH http://www.wcet.org
analog 48
digital 34-1
Cincinnati DirecTV Local 48,909
Cincinnati Dish Local 8356,48
Sat 11PM EST Resurrection of the Daleks 4 pt version, pts 3+4
Stein, a Dalek replicant, suffers confusion as his conscience does battle with his programming. The 5th Doctor's conscience has a similar battle with his brain, as he gets a final chance to purge the universe of Davros, creator of the Daleks.

WILL Urbana, IL http://www.will.uiuc.edu
analog 12
digital (33) - under construction
Sat 11:40PM CST The Androids of Tara pt 4 of 4
Count Grendel tries to force a wedding between Prince Reynart and Romana in a last effort to conquer the kingdom.

IPTV Iowa http://www.sffn.com http://www.iptv.org
analog 11,12,21,24,27,32,32,36,36
digital 50-1,(45),(25),(18),(28),(33),(35),(35),(34)
Des Moines Dish Local 9116,11
Omaha, NE Dish Local 9146,32
Cedar Rapids Dish Local 9161,12
Sat 11:35PM CST Robot pts 1+2 of 4
The 4th Doctor's era begins at U*N*I*T HQ, where the Brigadier has been called upon to solve a series of burglaries. The stolen material and information could be used to create an weapon of mass destruction.

KERA/K44FI Dallas/Wichita Falls, TX http://www.kera.org
analog 13,44
digital 14-1
Dallas DirecTV Local 13,889
Dallas Dish Local 8406,13
Late Fri 12:30AM CST Warriors' Gate movie
Now seen at this new time. If it seems like the 4th Doctor and Romana know Adric a bit too well considering he didn't appear to leave with them in the TARDIS last week, it's because the stories are in production order. State of Decay aired several weeks ago. The TARDIS arrives at a gateway between universes. A way home to the regular universe. But first, greedy humans and time-sensitive Tharils have a surprising tale to tell.

KBDI/K32EO Denver/Colorado Springs, CO http://www.kbdi.org
analog 12,32
digital (38) - under construction
Denver DirecTV Local 12,910
Denver Dish Local 8211,12
Late Fri 12:30AM MST The Trial Of A Time Lord pts 11+12 of 14 (Terror Of The Vervoids pts 3+4)
The Vervoids have gotten loose, slowly killing the crew and passengers. But before the 6th Doctor can deal with them, he has to deal with 2 attempts to take over the Hyperion III.
Sat 11PM MST The Trial Of A Time Lord pts 13+14 of 14 (The Ultimate Foe pts 1+2)
New evidence throws the Trial into chaos, endangers Gallifrey, and starts a mad chase for the truth. Episode 14 is the longest regular episode of the TV series in its 25 minute format, clocking in at 29 minutes. While not intended to be the final 6th Doctor story, it was the final episodes that Colin Baker would appear in as the Doctor.

KUED/KUES Salt Lake City/Richfield, UT http://www.kued.org
analog 7,19
digital 42-1,(19)
Salt Lake City DirecTV Local 7,982
Salt Lake City Dish Local 8536,7
Sat 11:30PM MST State of Decay pt 1 of 4
Stories are airing in production order. Don't be surprised by Adric's sudden appearance, followed by his sudden disappearance next month, and then his first appearance in April.

KBTC/KCKA/K65BU 28,15,65 Tacoma/Centralia/Gray's River, WA
http://www.kbtc.org
analog 28,15,65
digital (27),(19) - under construction
Seattle DirecTV Local 12,910
Seattle Dish Local 8620,28
Sat 7PM, Late Sat 12:30AM PST The Trial Of A Time Lord pts 7+8 of 14 (Mindwarp pts 3+4)
The Valeyard's evidence portrays the Doctor as a psychopath out only for his own interests. The Doctor cannot believe the evidence, as he witnesses life spiraling out of control.

KTEH/KCAH San Jose/Watsonville, CA http://www.kteh.org
analog 54,25
digital (50),(58) - under construction
San Francisco DirecTV Local 54,903
San Francisco Dish Local 8234,54 - returning soon?
Doctor Who will return soon. A special with Peter Davison airs February 16.

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Thanks for reading. Until next week, take care.

Doctor Who is a BBC Trademark. Copyright 2003.