The TARDIS has taken off, this time flying away from its Australian home of the ABC. A global deal between BBC and Disney Branded Television has meant that Doctor Who will now only be available on Disney+ in markets outside of the UK.
The deal means that the new seasons of the show will air exclusively on the BBC in the UK and Ireland markets, and on Disney+ in every other global market.
So far, there hasn’t been any mention of whether or not the deal will go on to incorporate any past seasons.
The deal will kick in come November 2023, when the show returns for its 60th anniversary. This means that it may not affect the upcoming specials with David Tennant, but will come into effect in time for the new Doctor – Ncuti Gatwa – to usher in the next era of the show.
Gatwa is set to take over from the current Doctor, Jodie Whittaker, and become the 14th Doctor.
“After a long friendship, spanning more than 50 years, the universe has called the Doctor in a different direction and Doctor Who will no longer appear on the ABC beyond the current season,” the ABC said in a statement.
“ABC audiences can currently enjoy past seasons of Doctor Who, including the recent centenary special, on ABC iview.
“We are incredibly grateful to the generations of Whovians who have enjoyed Doctor Who with us on the ABC.
“Everyone at the ABC wishes the Doctor well on their adventures and we hope the Time Lord will visit us again at some stage in the future.”
The announcement of the deal between BBC and Disney Branded Television also came with the unveiling of a brand new logo for the show. The new logo is an updated version of the classic “diamond” logo, which has been an iconic piece of imagery for the series since its design in 1973.