April 29, 2015 – Viewers in India are set to get initiated into the world of Doctor Who when all eight series of the iconic British show blaze onto their screens starting 15th May 2015. Doctor Who will air on FX, a channel owned by Star India Private Limited. Doctor Who will broadcast into a million homes in India.
Doctor Who is the longest running sci-fi TV show in the world and is a significant part of British popular culture. It depicts the adventures of the Doctor, a Time Lord, who travels the universe in his TARDIS, a time-travelling spaceship in the shape of an old British police box. Along with a succession of companions, the Doctor combats a variety of foes while working to save civilisations and help people in need.
The deal, inked between Star India and BBC Worldwide India marks the largest volume sale of Doctor Who in the country.
“This partnership marks a milestone for us,” said Myleeta Aga, SVP and GM of BBC Worldwide in India. “It will be the first time Whovians in India will be able to participate in the global Doctor Who phenomenon. And it is also the first time we’ve concluded a major deal with Star India.”
“We’ve seen an increasing interest in British drama from our partners in the last 12 months or so,” she continued. “Viewers now recognise the originality of British drama, and this has caused a surge in interest in our drama series like Doctor Who. We are very glad to be working with Star India to bring this very iconic series (including series 9 which is currently being filmed) to viewers in India.” She added.
A Star India spokesperson commented: “We are very excited to be bringing Doctor Who to our viewers in India. Doctor Who is distributed to over 200 territories across the world. We are very happy India will now be part of this global sensation and we’re sure that the series will resonate with our viewers.”
Brian Minchin, Executive Producer, Doctor Who says: “We are delighted that Doctor Who is going to hit the screens of FX. We’re hugely proud of the show and the Doctor’s adventures in time and space. Hold on tight – there are thrills and wonders ahead! 51 years ago, the very first episode of Doctor Who was directed by Waris Hussein, born in Lucknow. I like to think we’ve finally come full circle with the new modern series launching in India on FX.”
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For more information, please contact:
For BBC Worldwide:
Jeanne Leong
BBC Worldwide
Tel: +65 6849 5292
Email: Jeanne.Leong@bbc.com
About BBC Worldwide
BBC Worldwide is the main commercial arm and a wholly owned subsidiary of the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC). Its vision is to build the BBC’s brands, audiences, commercial returns and reputation across the world. This is achieved through investing in, commercialising and showcasing content from the BBC around the world, in a way that is consistent with BBC standards and values. The business also champions British creativity globally.
In 2013/14, BBC Worldwide generated headline profits of £157.4m and headline sales of £1,042.3m and returned £173.8m to the BBC. For more detailed performance information please see our Annual Review website: http://www.bbcworldwide.com/annualreview
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