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From: msc@saber.UUCP (Mark Callow)
Newsgroups: net.tv.drwho
Subject: Re: The Cancellation: the straight scoop and how to stop it!
Message-ID: <1619@saber.UUCP>
Date: Thu, 7-Mar-85 13:14:07 EST
Article-I.D.: saber.1619
Posted: Thu Mar  7 13:14:07 1985
Date-Received: Sun, 10-Mar-85 07:18:57 EST
References: <127@uw-june>
Organization: Saber Technology, San Jose, CA
Lines: 59

> Here is the "straight scoop" on the apparent demise of our favorite program,

It's not the straigt scoop.  It has many innaccuracies.  I was in London last
week when the news broke so I can give you a first hand report.

> 
> On Wednesday, Feb 27, Michael Grade, the Comptroller for BBC-1 announced that
> the BBC was cancelling Doctor Who due to lack of funds.  The outcry was almost
On Wednesday 27th February the BBC1 TV morning news show carried a report that
the controller of BBC 1 Michael Grade had decided to place Dr. Who on an
18 month layoff because the BBC needed the money for other drama productions.
There was NEVER any mention of cancellation.

> immediate.  By Thursday, Feb 28, all the London newspapers were screaming.
The Evening Standard carried the story that night and the following day
all of the national dailies carried the story most on the front page.
The consensus of opinion was that this was a ploy to gain support for
an increase of the TV licence fee to 65 pounds.  This increase was currently
being debated in parliament.  They also reported that Micheal Grade was
(oh so conveniently) on holiday and couldn't be reached for comment.

> Rock stars such as Boy George, Duran Duran, Frankie Goes to Hollywood, Elton
> John, etc. were announcing concerts/tours/records to raise funds for the show.
This is the first I've heard of this.  I didn't see any mention in the papers
or hear anything on radio or TV about this.

> some taste!)  The head of the Doctor Who Fan Club of America sent a telex to
> the BBC, saying that he'd raise $5million to support the show.
It was widely reported by Friday morning that the "Dr. Who fans in America"
had already raised $5 million for the show.

> On Friday, Mar 1, the BBC backed down, and decided to "merely" put the show
> on an 18-month hiatus.
> 
> The papers seem to be happy now, but at this point the show is very likely
> dead anyway,
On Friday 1st March, the BBC announced that it was reconsidering the decision
in view of the enormous outcry from all over the world.  Since the ORIGINAL
decision was for the 18 month layoff the papers were certainly not "happy now".

When I left on Sunday 3rd March there had been no word about the results
of the reconsideration.

> (don't know first name) McKinoch	Nigel Lawson
Presumably Neil McKinnoch who is leader of the labour party, the main
opposition party.

> Evening Standard
> Daily Mail			Fleet Street
> London Times			London W12, United Kingdom
Fleet Street is London EC1.

> ence between Britain and the States (+5 hours on East Coast, +9 on West Coast)
Britain is +8 hours from the West Coast.

-- 
From the TARDIS of Mark Callow
msc@saber.UUCP,  saber!msc@decwrl.ARPA
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