Canada’s SPACE & BBC Worldwide Ink Sci-Fi Deals

TORONTO: BBC Worldwide Canada and SPACE have firmed up an agreement for the four new specials from the long-running Doctor Who franchise and the third installment of the hit spin-off series Torchwood: Children of Earth.

The deal sees SPACE take the exclusive first window to the four one-hour Doctor Who 2009 specials, as well as the five-part television event Torchwood: Children of Earth. The first of the specials, Doctor Who: Planet of the Dead, premieres this July. Doctor Who: The Waters of Mars is the second special and, along with the two additional untitled specials, will premiere later in 2009 and early 2010. Torchwood: Children of Earth also premieres this July.

Fraser Robinson, the director of content for SPACE, said: “We are thrilled to enter into this partnership with the BBC to deliver Torchwood and Doctor Who to audiences across Canada. These shows are a great fit for our channel and the BBC’s ongoing support of their properties makes for an ideal joint venture.”

Hilary Read, the COO of BBC Worldwide Canada, added: “I’m delighted that these internationally renowned brands have found the perfect home in Canada.” 

The deal also includes Doctor Who seasons 1-4, Doctor Who: Runaway Bride and Doctor Who: The Christmas Investigation specials, which will arrive to the channel in March 2010. The Doctor Who: Voyage of the Damned special will begin its SPACE licence in April 2010. An earlier deal with SPACE gave the channel rights to the first two seasons of Torchwood and the Doctor Who: The Next Doctor special.