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New Doctor Who episode may have been leaked on purpose

16 March 2005 10:04 by James "Dela" Delahunty | 9 comments

AfterDawn reported that the BBC was investigating the leak of a brand new Doctor Who episode weeks before it is due to be aired. Now Wired has an article that claims the BBC may have leaked the episode themselves in order to increase interest in the new series. It is a method of advertising known as viral advertising. A group called the Broadcast Assassins were brought in last year by the BBC's entertainment group to "discuss the impact of new technologies on viewing/listening behavior," said Asa Bailey, a veteran advertising expert and member of the group.

"We told them all about the how-tos, and how to do viral advertising," said Bailey, who is also founder of the Viral Advertising Association. He said the BBC was very interested to find out how to use Viral advertising to inform the public of its upcoming programming. "I told them they should release things before their time, like what they've done with Doctor Who," he said. "Give out the first episode online, because it's going to be valuable. You've got that cool factor, and it's the whole, 'I've seen it before you have' kind of thing."

He does not know for sure however if the leak was actually intentional but commented on the quality of the episode saying that it was too high quality to have leaked by other means. Of course the BBC has denied it leaked the episode. "The leak of the first episode on the internet was not a publicity stunt," BBC spokeswoman Annie Frederick told Wired News in an e-mail. "It was a significant breach of copyright which is currently under investigation. The source of it appears to be connected to our co-production partner. We would urge viewers not to spoil their enjoyment and to wait for the finished version."

Their co-production partner is the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation which also denies it leaked the episode. "We believe it was one of our suppliers," said CBC spokeswoman Ruth-Ellen Soles, who wouldn't elaborate on the nature of the supplier. "And at the moment, the investigation isn't complete." Bailey however is not convinced and believes the BBC is trying out viral advertising. "It's a classic," Bailey said. "The best viral advert they could have done for that program would be to release the first (episode). You couldn't have come up with a better viral advert than that."

Source:
Wired

Permalink to this article

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venomX05 (Senior Member) 16 March 2005 10:14
Quote: "We told them all about the how-tos, and how to do viral advertising," said Bailey, who is also founder of the Viral Advertising Association. He said the BBC was very interested to find out how to use Viral advertising to inform the public of its upcoming programming. "I told them they should release things before their time, like what they've done with Doctor Who," he said. "Give out the first episode online, because it's going to be valuable. You've got that cool factor, and it's the whole, 'I've seen it before you have' kind of thing." So this was possibly planned, right? Quote: The leak of the first episode on the internet was not a publicity stunt," Now you KNOW this was a lie!!! Quote: We would urge viewers not to spoil their enjoyment and to wait for the finished version." That's like telling someone NOT to open Pandora's Box. Um, is it just me...or is anyone buying this? What next, since it is out, they go after P2P clients because it is getting downloaded all over the place? [ + quote]
strcruzer (Junior Member) 16 March 2005 12:42
the same can be said for those games that were supposedly "Leaked" to the internet as well. Blame those damn hackers and they get free advertisement of the new program or movie or record. [ + quote]
venomX05 (Senior Member) 16 March 2005 12:45
I know...damn them! Damn them to hell! LOL! [ + quote]
Letukka (Member) 16 March 2005 22:39
"That's like telling someone NOT to open Pandora's Box." Well their hands are pretty tied. What else they can say since they took this kind of position at the matter in the first place. [ + quote]
irishjoe (Newbie) 17 March 2005 0:05
Can someone pick the hole in this idea for the tv show maker people. After the episode is shown on tv, release a torrent on their own site of the episode shown in good quality. Now they put a small advertisement for their web site similar for the presentation notes on some dvd releases. Then the web site will have a massive number of hits for people getting the episode. One word� Advertising. Surely they will make a lot of money selling advertising space on their website to fund the development of a tv show. Or to take it a step further, only release it on the Internet. This could mean that the standards people don�t have a say in the matter. Gore, sex and violence would be allowed in as much quantities as the directors wanted. I know this couldn't happen for Dr Who cause the BBC paid for the development which doesnt have any advertising. But for other shows, does anyone see any obvious problems with this? [ + quote]
domie (Member) 17 March 2005 10:07
Roll out the dustbins on wheels with toilet unblockers for willies, the plastic rabid monsters with fairy liquid spitting out of their mouths and the alcan foil wrapped sex shop dolls...we don�t care who leaked it, we want out doctor who back with its 2 pounds 39 pence an episode mega budget !!!!! [ + quote]
nanu-nanu (Member) 19 March 2005 12:36
I told you theses butt-pirates leak things on purpose....I dont care if I watch it from Torrent I will start it on TV. Doctor WHoooooo ah...Doctor Who! [ + quote]
venomX05 (Senior Member) 19 March 2005 13:01
Quote: I told you theses butt-pirates leak things on purpose Now THAT was the funniest comment I have heard all week. [ + quote]
artrock26 (Inactive) 24 April 2005 17:05
I think it was leaked to warn us how the BBC as once again screwed up doctor who! I thought 1989 had bad storys!! then there was the movie?? and now a weekly 45 mins of story telling garbage with the doctor who logo stamped on top! seriously! if the new series wasn't doctor and called something like 'Billie Piper goes into outer space', nobody would care! I was looking forward to the new doctor who but its been wrecked!! no plot with fancy effects! its the truth and you know it!! effects dont blind and win me over [ + quote]