Disney Plus Snags Exclusive ‘Doctor Who’ Streaming Rights

ByAllie Johnson
Disney Plus - Dr Who - Youtube

Streaming Doctor Who just got easier for fans as Disney Plus (Disney+) has snagged exclusive streaming rights. With these exclusive streaming lights, Disney+ will offer Doctor Who on its streaming platform internationally with the exception of Ireland and the U.K. where it will continue to stream on BBC. What details have been made available about this streaming news? Keep reading for the details.

Disney Plus snags streaming rights to Doctor Who 

According to Deadline, Disney Branded Television and BBC have big plans after striking this exciting deal to take this established franchise “to even greater heights.” Unfortunately, fans of Doctor Who still have a while to wait as new episodes of the series starring the newest doctor, Ncuti Gatwa, are slated to premiere toward the end of 2023. Prior to this deal, Doctor Who aired new episodes on BBC America. HBO was also the streaming platform that older seasons of the series called home.

Ncuti Gatwa
Ncuti Gatwa – YouTube

Russell T. Davies is the name of the showrunner in charge of this newest chapter in the franchise and he’s excited to see what the future holds. He said in a statement about this new deal:

the vision and joy of the BBC and Disney+, together we can launch the TARDIS all around the planet, reaching a new generation of fans while keeping our traditional home firmly on the BBC in the UK.”

Disney+ President Alisa Bowen thinks Doctor Who will be the perfect addition to the streaming library. She added: “We’re excited by the opportunity to bring new seasons of this beloved franchise exclusively to Disney+ and introduce the show to the next generation of audiences.”

Ayo Davis, the Disney Branded Television president, was equally excited about this new partnership: “Doctor Who has captivated the imaginations of families around the world for the past six decades.”

We are so excited about this collaboration with the BBC, and the opportunity to bring this iconic franchise – and Russell T. Davies’ brilliant vision – to life for a huge new global audience.

Rebecca Glashow, the CEO and Global Distribution at BBC Studios, also agreed that this new partnership would be huge for the franchise as it would introduce Doctor Who to entirely new audiences.

How do fans feel about this big news?

For the most part, both Disney Plus subscribers and Doctor Who fans seem to embrace the new deal. Doctor Who fans in Ireland and the U.K., however, are arguing they wish Disney+ would be an option for them as well. Some fans have jokingly asked if this means the women of the franchise are now Disney princesses. Others have questioned if this means Doctor Who will now become a part of Disney World theme parks.

The biggest question everyone seems to have is simple: Will Disney Plus acquire older episodes of Doctor Who? Or, is the streaming network only picking up the newest episodes?

Are you looking forward to being able to stream Doctor Who on Disney Plus? Let us know your thoughts on this exciting news in the comments down below. And, keep coming back for more streaming news.

Allie Johnson
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3 Comments

  2. How are the irish going to be able to watch the show? We dont get access to Iplayer and are not part of the disney deal.. the worst part is no news outlet has picked up on this

    Reply

  3. Wow. Just wow. I’ve been watching Dr. Who for many many years. It was on BBC America and included with my extraordinaryily high cable bill. Now I have to pay even more money???? I love Dr. Who. Thanks a lot Disney for taking it away from me.

    Reply

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