Ultimate Whovian Heaven: Stream 800 Doctor Who Episodes and Unleash the Glorious 60th Anniversary Specials on BBC!

Summary

All 800 preserved episodes of Doctor Who, dating back to the show's debut in 1963, will be available on BBC iPlayer for the first time ever.

This decision by the BBC holds significant importance for the franchise, enabling them to enhance the appeal of their own streaming service and gain authority over the classic episodes.

Through the addition of previously contested episodes and accompanying materials on iPlayer, audiences now have an opportunity to reexperience vital classic narratives in preparation for the show's upcoming 60th anniversary festivities.

To celebrate its 60th anniversary, Doctor Who will make all 800 of its available episodes accessible on the BBC iPlayer. The iconic sci-fi series, which premiered on November 23, 1963, will also feature three special episodes in November, with David Tennant reprising his role as the mysterious Fourteenth Doctor. In anticipation of these milestone episodes, the official Doctor Who website has announced that UK audiences will have the opportunity to watch nearly every episode, from the First Doctor's debut in "An Unearthly Child" to the Thirteenth Doctor's regeneration in "The Power of the Doctor." Additionally, spin-off shows such as The Sarah Jane Adventures, Torchwood, and Class, as well as behind-the-scenes content like Doctor Who: Confidential, will be available for viewing.

Why Doctor Who's New iPlayer Home Is A Big Deal For The Franchise

Since the rebranding of iPlayer, the BBC has relied on Doctor Who as a major attraction. However, the classic episodes have never been fully released on the platform. Netflix briefly held the streaming rights for the classic episodes, which were later added to BritBox along with other Doctor Who-related shows created for the 50th anniversary, such as the making-of drama An Adventure In Space and Time. With BritBox now under new ownership and undergoing rebranding, the BBC is taking advantage of this opportunity to make its own streaming service more enticing.

Although the spin-offs have gradually made their way onto the service, several Doctor Who entries have been entangled in disputes that prevented them from being available for streaming. The 1996 TV movie Doctor Who starring Paul McGann and season 4 of Torchwood were previously stuck in disputes with the BBC and their collaborators. Additionally, licensing issues related to copyrighted music complicated the streaming of Doctor Who: Confidential. Thankfully, it seems that all of these issues have been resolved, bringing a sense of relief to fans who can now enjoy every space and time adventure in one place.

The iPlayer now includes the classic era and tie-in materials, giving viewers the opportunity to revisit important classic Doctor Who stories before the 60th anniversary. Additionally, there are plans for Doctor Who to be streamed globally on Disney+ for the anniversary and season 14. This may lead to previous episodes being available on the platform for viewers outside of the UK, but it is still uncertain if this will happen.