BBC Pitches $12 ‘Doctor Who’ BitTorrent Bundle

BBC Worldwide will use the BitTorrent Bundle platform to sell “selected highlights” from the last ten years of Doctor Who for $12.

The bundle will feature 10 episodes from the 2005-2014 portion of the show’s run, as well as a five-episode “An Introduction to New Who” (with introductions from Peter Capaldi, the actor currently playing the role of the Doctor), and two additional features – Earth Conquest (a TV movie from 2014), and the original script (in PDF) of Rose, the opening episode of the first series of the revived version of the series. The bundle also offers two free streams/downloads --The Decade of Doctor Who, and a preview of the Rose episode.

BitTorrent Bundle is a global platform that uses the company's file-sharing technology to enable content owners to upload their content and offer it as they see fit – for free or for a price.

“This innovative deal with BitTorrent allows us to directly reach a huge number of consumers and engage with fans on a global and fast-growing digital platform,” Julia Kenyon, director of Drama Brands for BBC Worldwide, said in a statement. “Music content has seen tremendous success through BitTorrent Bundle, and this deal is the first of its kind for British TV content.”

“This is an exciting way for fans to celebrate ten years of New Who, and we are honored to welcome the good Doctor to BitTorrent Bundle,” added Matt Mason, BitTorrent’s chief content officer.

Among recent activity, Mance Media has begun to offer trailers and full-length movies in 4K via BitTorrent Bundle.  BitTorrent will also use the platform to underpin its  expansion into original content.