TWIDW Update April 11 - Thomson Airways To Show Doctor Who
(posted 11th Apr 2005, 9:58pm - TWIDW post #0296)

BBC Worldwide has put out a press release revealing an interesting new Doctor Who "broadcaster" and confirming that Jimmy in Italy bought the series. - Benjamin Elliott, This Week In Doctor Who

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http://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/commercial/worldwidestories/pressrel

BBC Worldwide Press Releases
Doctor Who takes to the skies with BBC Worldwide
11.04.2005

On the eve of MIPTV, BBC Worldwide, the commercial arm of the BBC, has concluded two major deals for the brand new first series of Doctor Who, starring Christopher Eccleston and Billie Piper.

Following a deal struck at this year's BBC Showcase, Thomsonfly (formerly Britannia Airways Ltd) will broadcast episode one of the new series to passengers from 1 May on each of its video-equipped planes, on all routes around the world.

In Italy, the entertainment pay-TV channel Jimmy has added Doctor Who to a number of programmes recently licensed from BBC Worldwide including The Office, Little Britain and League Of Gentlemen.

Russell T Davies, who has reinvented television's favourite two- hearted Time Lord for a new generation, said: "Doctor Who has a remarkable 'fandom' but equally it's the new audience that I care about. Someone who has never heard of a TARDIS or a Dalek, whether in Toronto, Turin or Swansea, will be able to start with this new series, climb on board with The Doctor and Rose, and travel the whole of time and space."

Doctor Who is a co-production with {c{232=CBC}] in Canada and has also been sold to Prime TV in New Zealand. The first episode was a major success for BBC ONE in the UK when 10.5 million viewers tuned into watch The Doctor's return on 26 March. The 43% audience share dominated the British television schedule.

Fans of the world's longest running sci-fi television series can look forward to 13 brand new episodes in the first series, and the welcome return of time-honoured favourites, Daleks and the Doctor's TARDIS.