United States

The USA was the 34th country to screen Doctor Who.

Profile

Television Stations / Channels

After a slow start in August 1972, but not really kicking off until August 1978, the series aired on a multitude of commercial, non-commercial, independent, network affiliated, cable and PBS stations (Current PSB member stations) in all but a few of the states.

From 1972 to 1981, the series was distributed by Time-Life Films/Television, the film and TV division of Time-Life Inc. From 1981, the distributor was Lionheart Television International Inc.

• See also Korea (South) where Doctor Who aired on American Forces Network TV.

BBC Records

The Seventies records a sale of "(13)" stories by 28 February 1977. This tally is for the first batch of Jon Pertwee stories sold from 1972.

The Eighties - THE LOST CHAPTERS records a sale of "(118)" stories (by 10 February 1987). This tally is made up of:

• 13 Jon Pertwee stories – per the 1977 list
• 41 Tom Baker stories
• 20 Peter Davison stories
• 11 Colin Baker stories
• 17 William Hartnell stories – back catalogue
• 5 Patrick Troughton stories - back catalogue
• 11 Jon Pertwee stories - back catalogue

First station to screen each Doctor

As best that can be determined, the viewers in the following states were the first to see each of the first seven Doctors:

Chronology

The following introductory bullet-points are expanded on in the full Chronology of Doctor Who in the United States:

PBS logo, from 1975

• 1965-1972: Failed attempts to sell Doctor Who to the US.
• 1972-1978: Jon Pertwee's first three seasons air sporadically.
• 1978: Tom Baker episodes begin airing, mainly, but not exclusively, on PBS stations.
• 1982: Peter Davison premieres. Fan clubs and conventions are plentiful.
• 23 November 1983: Numerous stations air The Five Doctors, two days before BBC1.
• 1985: Colin Baker premieres, as do William Hartnell and Patrick Troughton.
• 1986-1988: The Doctor Who USA Tour visits 180+ cities.
• 1988: Sylvester McCoy premieres.
• 1992: Most PBS stations drop Doctor Who. The Sci-Fi Channel picks up the series.
• 1996: The TV movie fails to spark interest in a revival.

(Information in the chronology is taken from reports in DWM, DWB, Celestial Toyroom, Data Extract, Fantasy Image, Starlog, Doctor Who Marvel (US), Famous Monsters of Filmland, Fantastic Films, Fangoria, Enterprise Incidents, Enlightenment, and various online sites.)

Links

• Broadcasts around the World
• Articles & Analysis
• BBC Records
• First airings by location (Sort by the city column to group US cities together)