Classic Who set to Twitch

SEVEN weeks, seven doctors and a whole lot of Daleks -social video service Twitch is set to launch a Special Viewing Event for Doctor Who fans.

Twitch announced they are joining forces with BBC Studios for the first-ever digital broadcast event featuring the Classic Doctor Who series.

So that’s more than 500 episodes from the 26 series airing worldwide during the seven-week period. Starting 29 May (or in Australia’s case 4am 30 May) tune in each week Monday to Friday at 11 am PDT to catch episodes on Twitch.tv/TwitchPresents.

BBC Studios Director of Digital Sales and Business Development, Nick Coulter was excited about the partnership.

“We are constantly looking at ways to reach new audiences and make it easier for fans to engage with our most popular shows,” he said.

“Doctor Who, in particular, has a great tradition of pioneering new technologies, from early VHS all the way through to the new digital services of today. Twitch is another great example of this, as a brilliant service with over 15 million active daily users, we are thrilled to be able to offer them the chance to indulge in the Classic Doctor Who series and celebrate its amazing 54 year legacy of excitement and innovation.”

As part of the event, leading UK digital content creators The Yogscast are producing a series of shows that will introduce each Doctor. With a cast of Doctor Who screenwriters, experts, fans, and even a former companion, the Yogscast’s Turps and resident Doctor Who expert and High Roller’s player Matt Toffollo will discuss why modern audiences should watch Doctor Who. Each 20-minute episode will provide a brief summary of the stories, including the actors, monsters, famous phrases or production gaffes to look out for. With first-hand knowledge from former companion Katy Manning and writers Bob Baker and Paul Cornell, the shows will give insight into the series alongside the humour and irreverence viewers expect from the Yogscast.

“Doctor Who and its clever take on sci-fi exemplifies the type of adjacent content to gaming that has resonated with the Twitch community,” Jane Weedon, Twitch Director of Business Development said.

“By presenting this iconic BBC show in a new interactive format, it is a fun new way to bridge several generations of Doctor Who fans, while building a new generation of them.”

For more information on the Doctor Who episodes that will air on Twitch, visit the Twitch blog.

And if you want to own the Classic Who episodes and watch them any time you like (with extras and without ads) don’t forget to head to the DVD section of the DWCA Shop where you can purchase the eps – http://dwca.org.au/products-page/dvds/