BBC announces Doctor Who 50th anniversary worldwide simulcast via social media
The BBC has announced via Facebook that it plans to simultaneously broadcast the programme’s 50th anniversary special in 75 countries across the world when the Timelord hits the milestone on 23 November.
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The programme has previously fallen foul of pirated leaks being broadcast ahead of the scheduled transmission time.
The simulcast was announced via Facebook and picked up over 16,000 likes and over 3000 shares in its first two hours.
"Few TV shows can still lay claim to being appointment viewing but Doctor Who takes this to another level,” said Tim Davie, CEO of BBC Worldwide.
“In its 50th anniversary year we wanted to create a truly international event for Doctor Who fans in as many countries as possible and the simultaneous broadcast and cinema screening of the special across so many countries will make for a fitting birthday tribute to our Time Lord."
The programme has drawn criticism on social media in the months leading up to the anniversary from fan communities who believe the anniversary broadcast will focus on the relaunched series from 2005, at the expense of the original show which ran from 1963 to 1989.