RUMOR: Disney To Cancel Doctor Who After 2 Seasons Due To ‘Underwhelming’ Viewership

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RUMOR: Disney To Cancel Doctor Who After 2 Seasons Due To 'Underwhelming' Viewership

Highlights

  • Doctor Who may not continue on Disney Plus after two seasons due to low ratings and viewership concerns.
  • BBC defends Doctor Who’s low overnight viewership, attributing it to changing viewing habits and iPlayer premieres.
  • Despite potential cancellation by Disney, the long-standing Doctor Who brand is expected to survive and thrive.

As a long-time fan of Doctor Who, I’ve witnessed the ups and downs of this iconic British sci-fi series throughout its long and storied history. The latest season, featuring Ncuti Gatwa as the Fifteenth Doctor, was met with excitement when it debuted on Disney Plus, but recent rumors have left me feeling uneasy.

As a passionate gamer and avid fan of Disney’s latest productions, I can tell you that Disney reportedly invested a huge sum of money into the newest “Doctor Who” season featuring Ncuti Gatwa. The catch? This series would only be available to stream on Disney Plus, excluding the United Kingdom. Nevertheless, whispers circulate among fans that “Doctor Who” might no longer grace our Disney Plus screens after just two seasons.

In May, Doctor Who, which initially aired on BBC, became available with several episodes on Disney Plus. Featuring Gatwa as the Fifteenth Doctor and Millie Gibson as his companion, Ruby Sunday, this season takes viewers on a journey through time and space aboard the TARDIS. Along the way, they meet both friends and foes. The last episode was broadcasted on June 21. However, mere weeks after wrapping up its first season on Disney Plus, whispers began circulating that the show might not continue beyond the previously arranged two seasons.

Disney collaborated with BBC on creating the British sci-fi show “Doctor Who.” Yet, during Disney’s Upfront 2024 presentation at North Javits Center in May, “Doctor Who” didn’t receive much attention, causing some to question its importance for Disney+. According to Deadline’s sources, there was a significant decline in ratings and audience numbers compared to earlier seasons. An anonymous source stated, “The ratings are an issue.” The UK viewership during the May premiere reached just 2.6 million overnight viewers, falling short of Jodie Whittaker’s past seasons and David Tennant’s specials.

BBC argued that overnight ratings and weekly viewership numbers were no longer reliable indicators of a show’s true audience in the on-demand era. Their spokesperson explained that “overnights don’t reflect the entire viewing picture for drama series like Doctor Who” since it had premiered early on iPlayer before its television broadcast. However, an industry expert expressed skepticism, pointing out that the show had lower viewership compared to previous specials and Jodie Whittaker’s series. Two ratings sources agreed that the figures were disappointing, with one noting that Doctor Who faced challenges in attracting a large audience in the US.

Although some individuals believed the issue went beyond ratings and audience numbers, Tony Jordan, Society Coordinator of the 30,000-member Doctor Who Appreciation Society, viewed the program as a “mixed bag.” He was thrilled about Russell T Davies’ return as showrunner, but had reservations regarding the screenwriter and producer. Jordan recollected, “When Russell’s comeback was announced, I thought, ‘This is fantastic,’ but perhaps I was focusing on the positive aspects and disregarding the less successful ones.” Some episodes, such as “Space Babies,” received unfavorable critiques from critics. The Guardian dismissed it as an “average Doctor Who installment,” while the Independent described it as a “promise that never truly materialized on screen.” Jordan also wondered about the episode order and felt Ncuti Gatwa didn’t receive as much attention as other Doctor Who leads due to his busy filming schedule. Additionally, some media labeled the show as a “woke obsession” and “peak woke,” which might have influenced both public reception and critical response.

As a dedicated gamer, I’ve been keeping a close eye on the latest news about Disney and “Doctor Who.” But unfortunately, we gamers haven’t gotten any official word yet from Disney regarding the show’s viewership numbers. Based on the information available, it seems that “Doctor Who” may have underperformed, at least in Disney’s eyes. After all, they invested a substantial sum of $100 million for two seasons and specials.

Doctor Who Season 2 will likely air in early 2025.

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2024-07-23 19:25