Doctor Who - Gamerstable Ep78

Boz Shulun · Oct 9, 2012

<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:TrackMoves/> <w:TrackFormatting/> <w

unctuationKerning/> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w

oNotPromoteQF/> <w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther> <w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian> <w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:SnapToGridInCell/> <w:WrapTextWithPunct/> <w:UseAsianBreakRules/> <w

ontGrowAutofit/> <w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/> <w

ontVertAlignCellWithSp/> <w

ontBreakConstrainedForcedTables/> <w

ontVertAlignInTxbx/> <w:Word11KerningPairs/> <w:CachedColBalance/> </w:Compatibility> <m:mathPr> <m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/> <m:brkBin m:val="before"/> <m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/> <m:smallFrac m:val="off"/> <m:dispDef/> <m:lMargin m:val="0"/> <m:rMargin m:val="0"/> <m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/> <m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/> <m:intLim m:val="subSup"/> <m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/> </m:mathPr></w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--> Up until recently, in the United States, Doctor Who was relegated to the periphery of even the science fiction community. With its cheesy special effects and weird characters, getting the attention of mainstream audiences was virtually impossible.

That has all changed now.

We talk about what we love about this beloved sci-fi show.

Please click here to listen.

<object style="position:absolute;z-index:1000" type="application/x-dgnria" id="plugin0" height="0" width="0">

</object>

Morrus · Oct 9, 2012

The "Why?" of it is easy. The BBC decided that's what it wanted to happen and gave it the resources to make it happen. They needed a flagship family drama, and they chose Doctor Who.

It gets far more money and attention here in the UK than it ever used to. And it spends some of that money promoting in the US. IMO it's focusing on the US a bit too much right now with all the appearances and stuff the cast and crew are doing over there; more than they've done here in the last year or two.

Boz Shulun · Oct 9, 2012

Agreed.

As for mainstream US success, I think that it is long overdue. BBC America has helped that tremendously.

I just think that it's cool to see groups of people who, twenty years ago, would have had no clue what Doctor Who was clamoring for more and more.

Morrus · Oct 9, 2012

Boz Shulun said:
As for mainstream US success, I think that it is long overdue.

See, I don't see why. The BBC doesn't need viewing figures for ads or anything. I don't see how having lots of Americans watching the show benefits the British TV license payers (who have to pay to make the show). But I'm probably fundamentally misunderstanding the way it all operates.

It's nice that people can enjoy it and all, I guess. I worry about it changing.

Boz Shulun · Oct 9, 2012

I think you're right. I feel that Cow-towing to a mainstream audience is not good (based on the taste of mainstream US audiences it is downright detestable) and that is exactly what "success" is measured by in the US market.

I totally understand the apprehension to the show changing to suit a broader audience. I for one think that the charm of Doctor Who is that as much as there have been changes in technology and production, the show is essentially the same.

As stated in our episode, for people like myself who drifted away, it allows people to very easily get back into it. It is also very easily enjoyed by families. Parents who grew up loving the Doctor and kids who are just now finding him.

Morrus · Oct 9, 2012

Boz Shulun said:
I think you're right. I feel that Cow-towing to a mainstream audience is not good (based on the taste of mainstream US audiences it is downright detestable) and that is exactly what "success" is measured by in the US market.

No, you're misunderstanding me. It already is a mainstream show. The question is why additional popularity to a foreign audience matters to the BBC. You have to remember that we're talking about a state-owned license-fee funded organisation, not a commerical one. Its not there to make a profit (and, in fact, can't by charter).

There's clearly some legal/corporate subtlety that I'm not grokking.

I'm happy that it benefits you in the US, of course; but that's just a side-effect from my point of view.

Boz Shulun · Oct 9, 2012

Ah. I see. (Sorry about that)

It is so easy for me to forget that BBC is state run. But isn't BBC Worldwide a public corp? If they are, I can see the temptation to bend to attract a more global audience.

Don't get me wrong. I agree with you that it is a mainstream show. I am merely speaking from my own perspective and seeing more and more people locally appreciating Doctor Who and I think that that is very cool. Forever U.S. Doctor Who fans, myself included, were scoffed at by Star Wars and Star Trek fans who thought it was lame.

It's just nice to see something that I've appreciated for a long time get the recognition from a whole new audience.

Morrus · Oct 9, 2012

Boz Shulun said:
. But isn't BBC Worldwide a public corp? .

Yeah, I don't quite understand how it all works. BBC Worldwide is a regular corporation, but owned by the BBC. But Doctor Who is made by BBC Wales. I wonder if BBC Worldwide kicks some money in, and the foreign revenues are how it gets a return on that? But even then, how does that work when it's owned by the BBC?

Tonguez · Oct 10, 2012

BBC Worldwide (of which BBC America is part) invests it's profits into new productions by the BBC and other independent productions, in this way the BBC can supplement it's public fund and ensure it's executives get bigger pay cheques

Morrus · Oct 11, 2012

All that aside - just listened to the podcast. It was very entertaining - I enjoyed it!

Doctor Who - Gamerstable Ep78

Boz Shulun

First Post

Morrus

Well, that was fun

Boz Shulun

First Post

Morrus

Well, that was fun

Boz Shulun

First Post

Morrus

Well, that was fun

Boz Shulun

First Post

Morrus

Well, that was fun

Tonguez

A suffusion of yellow

Morrus

Well, that was fun

Similar Threads