Press release from ABC TV
In a first for ABC TV, the new series of Doctor Who will launch on ABC iView – the ABC’s internet broadcasting service – two days prior to its broadcast on ABC1.
Less than two weeks after the first episode airs on the BBC in the UK, Australian viewers will be able to stream it on iView from midnight on Friday 16 April at abc.net.au/iview. The episode will then be shown on ABC1 on Sunday 18 April at 7.30pm.
The new series stars Matt Smith (Party Animals) as the 11th Doctor –introduced to viewers at the end of the recent two-part special ‘The End Of Time’ – and Karen Gillan as his companion Amy Pond. Bafta-winning writer Steven Moffat (Coupling, Jekyll) is replacing Russell T Davies as lead writer and executive producer.
The first three episodes have been confirmed as ‘The Eleventh Hour’ and ‘The Beast Below’ by Steven Moffat, and ‘Victory of the Daleks’ by Mark Gatiss.
Director of Television, Kim Dalton, said: “iView is a fantastic offering, an additional way for Australian audiences to watch ABC TV’s content – generally after, but in this special case before, its television broadcast.
“We hope the lure of Doctor Who – and what a fun and exciting lure it is – will provide incentive for more viewers to discover iView, and experience how convenient and easy-to-use it is.”
Doctor Who was ABC TV’s highest rating program on iView in April to December last year – with 378,000 views during that period. The next highest program was Four Corners, with 260,600 views. In February 2010, ABC iView recorded 411,000 visitors, its highest number of visitors to date.