One of the biggest reasons people rely on Bittorrent to watch TV shows these days is that the local networks tend to make us wait for months before showing a program that’s already been seen overseas. And while the commercial channels have started to try and “fast-track” episodes by showing them a few days later, the ABC is still woefully slow at showing all the latest BBC programming.
Until now, that is. A press release landed in my inbox yesterday afternoon from Aunty saying that they’ll be “fast tracking” the latest Doctor Who Christmas Special, where viewers discover the identity of the new Doctor. The episode will screen on Christmas Day in the UK, while in Australia, fans will be able to enjoy the episode just one month later on January 25.Sorry Aunty, but showing a program we’ve been able to watch online for a whole month is not fast-tracking.Considering how far ahead of the commercial networks you are when it comes to IPTV, I thought you would have realised that.
If you are a (now disappointed) Doctor Who fan, the press release is below:
ABC TV FAST-TRACKS THE NEXT DOCTOR TO AUSTRALIA
Doctor Who fans are in for a treat when ABC TV screens the highly anticipated 2008 Doctor Who Christmas Special on Sunday January 25 at 7.30pm, on ABC 1.
Doctor Who: The Next Doctor will screen in the UK on Christmas Day, December 25, and will then be fast-tracked via tardis to Australia.
With news of David Tennant’s impending departure from the cult-hit series, there has been much intrigue and speculation surrounding who will be the 11th time lord. Will all finally be revealed in this Christmas special?
In Doctor Who: The Next Doctor, it’s Christmas Eve 1851, and Cybermen stalk through the snow of Victorian London. However, when the Doctor (David Tennant) meets another Doctor (David Morrissey), the two must combine forces to stop the rise of the CyberKing. But, are two Doctors enough?
To watch a exclusive sneak preview visit here:
Doctor Who: The Next Doctor will be available on ABC iView from Monday January 26, 2009.
ABC1 will then present an encore screening of series two of Doctor Who, each Tuesday night at 8.30pm, starting January 27, 2009.
dave
Wednesday, December 24, 2008 at 12:28 PM1-month delay! I am going to watch it on Boxing Day. Fail ABC, Fail.
How about we just cut the whole ABC and transmit all of the BBC directly here instead? It would be wildly popular and cost less.
Jo
Wednesday, December 24, 2008 at 12:34 PMSorry, I am a far from disappointed Dr Who fan. January 25th is so much sooner than any of us expected, going by previous years efforts. And far easier to avoid spoilers for one month instead of six! I am just happy to have Who on our tellys.
Randy Quaine
Wednesday, December 24, 2008 at 4:03 PMFast Tracking ? I don’t think so… It’s a Christmas Special… not an Australia Day special… I will be watching it on the 27th with a lot of other Dr Who fans.
joe
Wednesday, December 24, 2008 at 6:03 PM“fast-tracked via tardis to Australia.” thats an f’ing slow tardis
Daj
Wednesday, December 24, 2008 at 9:12 PMThat is pathetic. I’ll be fast-tracking my Doctor Who Christmas Special through Usenet.
rubbertaster
Thursday, December 25, 2008 at 11:27 PMA bloody VHS tape sent in the mail would be quicker.
Fast track…in the 19th century maybe.
Dicks.
Dan
Friday, December 26, 2008 at 6:07 PMToo late ABC. But full points for trying. I first read the article and thought oh great we’ll be able to watch it on Boxing Day, well, I will. Thanks to channel BT I can watch it in the luxury of my home without waiting for a whole fastracked month to go by.
Randy Quaine
Friday, December 26, 2008 at 6:35 PM… and it was great ! well worth the watch =D Don’t worry Aunty ABC, I’ll view it again on Australia Day or whenever it evetually comes along – probably have forgotten the story line by then :P
Allister Hardiman
Friday, December 26, 2008 at 7:49 PMThis is fast tracking? Why don’t they send it by old fashioned sailing clipper, that’s six weeks, although if they choose a two screw steamer via the Suez Canal it might get here sooner. Aunty dear, ever heard of downloading? No one obviously ever told them about trans-oceanic cables! Crikey, they really are Dowager Lace and pass-the-mucillage Victorians at the ABC.
Glenn Bargery
Wednesday, December 23, 2009 at 10:46 PMwell better then the six month waiting period of past christmas specials, but yeah, i’ll be watching it on boxing day too, hell the episodes been made months ago, wouldn’t take a genius to send copies all over the world, either via physical mail, or electronic means, and thusly, share it around the world on each continents designated christmas day.
technology, no matter how fast and quick computers get, they still have to contend with slow individuals.
John von Ahlen
Saturday, December 26, 2009 at 1:24 PMLOL @ ABC. A one month wait, when I can get it on torrent a few hours later? Fast tracking means next day, not a MONTH later. Consumers (like me) now have options so we don’t have to rely on slow, dumb TV executives who think we will wait a month for something , we can see within an hour of being broadcast overseas. Way to kill your own industry guys….High Five!!
Brian
Friday, December 24, 2010 at 6:13 PMONE BLOODY MONTH IS FAST TRACK ???????????????
Stuff that, i will have it on my TV 2 hours after its been on UK TV’s.
ABC YOU FAIL !!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Seamus Byrne
Sunday, December 26, 2010 at 11:14 PM1 month? It was about 12 1/2 hours from UK broadcast to AU broadcast. What’s your trauma?
Brian
Thursday, December 30, 2010 at 8:03 PMDid you even read the article, weather or not they showed it 12 hours, where did the article get one month from ? I suggest ABC changed their minds after the fact.