Difference between revisions of "Australia TX 1985-1990"

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=AUSTRALIAN TRANSMISSION HISTORY (Part Six) (1985-1990)=
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=AUSTRALIAN TRANSMISSION HISTORY (Part Eight) (1985-1990)=
 
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By late 1985, the ABC assumed responsibility for its own censorship of programmes. The first block of '''Doctor Who''' under this new policy was season 22. It was at the ABC's request that the BBC edited the episodes into 25 minute instalments, to fit in with the station's scheduling policy.  
+
By the end of 1984, the ABC had assumed responsibility for its own in-house censorship of programmes. (The Bond Store was merged with the Film / VT Library as it was no longer required. It is possible that during initial prep for the merger that the 16mm print of "The Final Test" was discovered.)
  
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*From '''late August 1985''', the ABC extended its transmission coverage via one of the [[wikipedia:Aussat|AUSSAT]] satellites to reach the island of New Guinea.  
+
The first block of new '''Doctor Who''' episodes assessed under this policy was season 22 (although the Jon Pertwee stories acquired in 1985 for the 1986 repeat season – see below – had also been acquired by this time and assessed anew by the ABC). The BBC had initially supplied the first batch of stories from Season 22 in their original 45 minute format.
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*Satellite links also meant that broadcasts across Australia could begin to be fully synchronised.  
+
 
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*After '''eleven months''' with no new episodes or repeats, it wasn't until Monday, '''9 December 1985''' that fans could see the first full season of the sixth Doctor. Screening Monday to Thursday, at 6.35pm, the season aired in the re-edited 25 minute episode format, with {{6W}} and {{6X}} in production order. Over the Christmas / New Years period, there was a break in the schedules, with part one of {{6W}} screening on '''23 December 1985''', and part two held over to '''31 December 1985'''. Part three of that serial aired the following day, on '''1 January 1986'''.  
+
It was at the ABC's request that the BBC re-edit the 45 minute episodes into 25 minute instalments, to fit in with the station's scheduling policy.
 +
 
 +
From '''26 January 1986''' (Australia Day), the ABC officially commenced broadcasts via one of the [[wikipedia:Aussat|AUSSAT]] satellites.
 +
*These signals were also available simultaneously in '''[[Papua New Guinea]]'''. Refer to that country profile for further information.  
 +
 
 +
'''Satellite links''' also meant that broadcasts across Australia could now be fully synchronised, meaning that from 1986 onwards, '''Doctor Who''' was beamed from space! However, for a while yet the BRISBANE network continued to transmit a separate feed to all the remote centres not yet part of the satellite link-ups.  
 +
 
 +
 
 +
'''NEW EPISODES'''
 +
 +
*After '''eleven months''' with no new episodes or repeats, it wasn't until Monday, '''9 December 1985''' that fans could see the first full season of the sixth Doctor. Screening Monday to Thursday, at 6.35pm, the season aired in the re-edited 25 minute episode format, with {{6W}} and {{6X}} in production order.  
 +
*Over the Christmas / New Years period, there was a break in the schedules, with part one of {{6W}} screening on '''23 December 1985''', and part two held over to '''30 December 1985'''. Part three of that serial aired two days later, on '''1 January 1986'''.  
 
*Colin Baker's first season concluded on Tuesday, '''28 January 1986'''. This was immediately followed by a long run of repeats and some new episodes, which has been treated as a separate Block of its own…
 
*Colin Baker's first season concluded on Tuesday, '''28 January 1986'''. This was immediately followed by a long run of repeats and some new episodes, which has been treated as a separate Block of its own…
  
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**'''These episodes were also the first of '''Doctor Who''' to be available simultaneously in [[Papua New Guinea]]. Refer to that country profile for further information.'''
 
  
  
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[[File:1986Repeats.JPG|right|thumb|350px|Articles in Perth newspapers complaining about black and white repeats, and a response complaining about the complaints!]]
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[[File:ABCKrotons86.JPG|right|thumb|300px|The Krotons ep 2; TV Week for 10 February 1986]]
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[[File:ABCTVWeek86.jpg|right|thumb|350px|TV Week articles about "first-run" "repeats" in 1986]]
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The BBC had released the package of all 24 Jon Pertwee serials (but not part one of {{WWW}}) for the [[United States]]. This package was also made available to [[New Zealand]] (where the repeat run had commenced in April 1985) and Australia. With the ABC now in control of its own censorship, three serials that had previously been "A" rated were reviewed and given "G" ratings, and aired for the first time in Australia. This run consisted of episodes that were black and white, PAL colour or NTSC to PAL conversions.  
+
The BBC had released the package of all 24 Jon Pertwee serials (but not part one of {{WWW}}) for the [[United States]]. This package was also made available to [[New Zealand]] (where the repeat run had commenced in April 1985) and Australia.  
 +
 
 +
This package consisted of episodes that were in black and white, PAL colour or NTSC to PAL conversions. (Although the ABC had previously transmitted several NTSC 525-line colour Pertwees in 1983, it appears that for this 1986 run the BBC supplied new NTSC to PAL conversions for those episodes.)
 +
 
 +
Under its new in-house censorship policy, the ABC considered that all programmes previously classified "A" or "G" with cuts were to be reassessed. Three serials that had previously been "A" rated were reviewed and given "G" ratings - and so {{DDD}}, {{FFF}} and {{JJJ}} aired for the first time in Australia. All the episodes previously classified "G with cuts" were re-evaluated, passed and aired without cuts. 
 +
 
 +
One exception to that decision was {{CCC}} 1; the ABC agreed that the cuts made in 1971 (reducing or removing the violent shootings and physical fighting between Carrington's men and the UNIT soldiers in the warehouse) were still necessary. The previously-cut third episode, however, was given a "G uncut" pass.  
 +
 
 +
 
 
*The repeat run, Monday to Thursday, commenced on Wednesday, '''29 January 1986''', at 6.35pm, with the Patrick Troughton serial {{UU}} followed by {{WW}} (both of which had been acquired by the ABC over a year earlier, and had already aired in [[New Zealand]] in April 1985). (These were the first Troughton episodes to screen since 1972.)
 
*The repeat run, Monday to Thursday, commenced on Wednesday, '''29 January 1986''', at 6.35pm, with the Patrick Troughton serial {{UU}} followed by {{WW}} (both of which had been acquired by the ABC over a year earlier, and had already aired in [[New Zealand]] in April 1985). (These were the first Troughton episodes to screen since 1972.)
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*The full run of 127 Pertwee episodes commenced on '''13 February 1986'''. The previously "A" rated {{DDD}} aired from '''18 March 1986'''; {{FFF}} (b/w) from '''7 April 1986''', and {{JJJ}} (b/w) from '''5 May 1986'''. All 24 serials also aired for the first time in their correct story order.  
+
*The full run of 127 Pertwee episodes commenced on '''13 February 1986'''. As noted on the previous page, the closing credits to some episodes of {{AAA}} were tinted green.
−
*<!--For the first time, {{PPP}} episode 2 was the standard version, not the extended version that had aired previously. Likewise, part 5 of {{QQQ}} was also the standard version. (See email from GP; he says it WAS the extended version in Melbourne -->
+
*The previously "A" rated {{DDD}} aired from '''18 March 1986'''; {{FFF}} (b/w) from '''7 April 1986''', and {{JJJ}} (b/w) from '''5 May 1986'''. All 24 serials also aired for the first time in their correct story order. An announcement over the start of {{SSS}} part 3 apologised for it being in black and white.
−
*Commonwealth Games coverage interrupted the run mid-way through {{QQQ}}, from mid-July to early August. Part three of {{SSS}} was in b/w, but {{WWW}} was repeated only in its five-part full colour version.  
+
*{{PPP}} part 2 was the extended edit with the alternative Delaware theme music.  
−
*Yet another repeat of {{4A}} commenced on '''8 October 1986'''. {{4B}} was missed because the schedulers did not want the run to conclude in the middle of the week. The repeat run concluded with part four of {{4F}} on Thursday, '''13 November 1986''', to make way for sports coverage over the summer. (Some newspapers, such as in BRISBANE, did list both parts of {{4B}}, but also that the run ended with {{4F}} part two; these are clearly editorial errors.)
+
*Commonwealth Games coverage interrupted the run mid-way through {{QQQ}}, from '''mid-July to early August'''. Part three of {{SSS}} was in b/w, but {{WWW}} was repeated only in its five-part full colour version.
 +
*It was during this repeat run that the ABC Shop advertised the '''Make Your Own Adventure…''' books – see the Merchandise section on the main profile page.  
 +
*Yet another repeat of {{4A}} commenced on '''8 October 1986'''. The two-part {{4B}} was missed because the schedulers did not want the run to conclude in the middle of the week. The repeat run concluded with part four of {{4F}} on Thursday, '''13 November 1986''', to make way for sports coverage over the summer. (Some newspapers, such as in BRISBANE, did list both parts of {{4B}}, but also that the run ended with {{4F}} part two; these are clearly printing errors.)
 +
{{Image table
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|[[File:1986Repeats.JPG|right|thumb|350px|Articles in Perth newspapers complaining about black and white repeats, and a response complaining about the complaints!]]|[[File:ABCTVWeek86.jpg|right|thumb|350px|TV Week articles about "first-run" "repeats" in 1986]]
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}}
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{{clear}}
  
  
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[[File:5B19Dec87.JPG|right|thumb|350px|The Pirate Planet Omnibus, 19 December 1987]]  
 
[[File:5B19Dec87.JPG|right|thumb|350px|The Pirate Planet Omnibus, 19 December 1987]]  
  
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The ABC had assumed the responsibility of censoring its own programming in 1985. It was during this run that the "A" rated {{4K}} and {{4P}} were newly assessed by the ABC, given "G" ratings, and screened for the first time. ({{4K}} had previously aired in a late-night truncated edition). They screened (two episodes edited together) on '''9 and 16 May 1987''' and '''18 and 25 July 1987''' respectively.
+
The ABC's censors re-evaluated the previously "A" rated {{4K}} and {{4P}}, and both were passed with "G" ratings, and screened for the first time. ({{4K}} had previously aired in a truncated edition in a late-night slot.)  
−
*Colin Baker's second season commenced on Saturday, '''7 February 1987'''. For the first time since 1977, the series was back to screening once per week. The ABC had screened the 45 minute episodes of season 22 as re-edited 25 minute instalments, however, for season 23 they edited the 25 minute episodes together, airing them as seven 50 minute episodes, from 6.10 to 7.00pm.  
+
 
−
*For BRISBANE, only three weeks into the new run, the series was moved to Sundays at 5.10pm for 12 weeks, presumably to make way for Saturday sports coverage. This date change was from '''1 March 1987''', with parts seven and eight of "The Trial" until '''17 May 1987''', with [[The Brain of Morbius]] parts three and four. From '''17 May 1987''', the series was moved back to Saturday.
+
However, even though the ABC now assigned its own censorship classifications, and had passed the stories which had previously been classified "A" under the old regime, they were not able to acquire replacement tapes of the stories that had been cut by the AFCB, so ironically, they were forced to continue broadcasting the cut Tom Baker episodes from the same tapes they had been using since 1978...
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**NOTE: There were probably many other regional differences occurring at this time: during the first half of 1987, in Queensland, '''Doctor Who''' was shown on Sundays rather than Saturdays. This was to accommodate broadcasts of Rugby Union (both local, as well as the 1987 Rugby World Cup), which generally played Saturday afternoons.
+
 
−
*From Saturday, '''28 March 1987''', a run of repeats continued from where the previous run had ended in November 1986, starting with {{4H}}. As with season 23, two episodes were edited together, playing Saturdays. There were some regional variances during this run, usually due to coverage of sporting events, such as football and golf; '''ADELAIDE''', '''MELBOURNE''' and '''HOBART''' aired them at 1.00pm or 1.15pm. Some states skipped stories, or played them in a different order. HOBART had to skip {{4H}} in order to keep in step with screenings in MELBOURNE. MELBOURNE missed parts three and four of {{4V}}.  
+
 
 +
'''NEW EPISODES'''
 +
 
 +
*Colin Baker's second season commenced on Saturday, '''7 February 1987'''. For the first time since 1977, the series was back to screening once per week. The ABC had screened the 45 minute episodes of season 22 as re-edited 25 minute instalments, however, for season 23 they edited the 25 minute episodes together, airing them in 50-minute slots from 6.10 to 7.00pm over seven weeks.  
 +
*For '''BRISBANE''', only three weeks into the new run, the series was moved to Sundays at 5.10pm for 12 weeks. This was to accommodate broadcasts of Rugby Union (both local, as well as the 1987 Rugby World Cup), which generally played Saturday afternoons. This date change was from '''1 March 1987''', with parts seven and eight of "The Trial" until '''17 May 1987''', with {{4K}} parts three and four. From '''17 May 1987''', the series was moved back to Saturday.
 +
 
 +
 
 +
'''REPEATS'''
 +
 
 +
*From Saturday, '''28 March 1987''', a run of Tom Baker repeats continued from where the previous run had ended in November 1986, starting with {{4H}}. As with season 23, two episodes were now edited together, playing on Saturdays.  
 +
*There were some regional variances during this run, usually due to coverage of sporting events, such as football and golf; '''ADELAIDE''', '''MELBOURNE''' and '''HOBART''' aired them at 1.00pm or 1.15pm. Some states skipped stories, or played them in a different order. HOBART had to skip {{4H}} in order to keep in step with screenings in MELBOURNE. MELBOURNE missed parts three and four of {{4V}}.  
 
*'''SYDNEY''' and '''PERTH''' aired the two episodes at 6.10pm. It remained in SYDNEY at that timeslot through until September, but for PERTH there was a variation when, to accommodate local broadcast of the '''WAFL Match Of The Day''', it was moved to 4.10pm from '''4 April''' (with {{4H}} parts 3/4) through to '''29 August''' (with {{4K}} episodes 3/4). Then, from Saturday '''5 September''', both SYDNEY and PERTH moved the two episodes to 1.00pm (starting with {{4S}} 3/4).  
 
*'''SYDNEY''' and '''PERTH''' aired the two episodes at 6.10pm. It remained in SYDNEY at that timeslot through until September, but for PERTH there was a variation when, to accommodate local broadcast of the '''WAFL Match Of The Day''', it was moved to 4.10pm from '''4 April''' (with {{4H}} parts 3/4) through to '''29 August''' (with {{4K}} episodes 3/4). Then, from Saturday '''5 September''', both SYDNEY and PERTH moved the two episodes to 1.00pm (starting with {{4S}} 3/4).  
 +
*The '''two previously "banned" stories {{4K}} and {{4P}} finally went to air''', albeit in a slightly modified form since two episodes were now edited together, losing two sets of closing titles and recaps; they screened  on '''9 and 16 May 1987''' and '''18 and 25 July 1987''' respectively.
 
*In ADELAIDE, a scheduling error resulted in parts 3-4 of {{4P}} airing before parts 1-2. To make up for this blunder, the ADELAIDE station broadcast the story as a complete omnibus on '''1 August 1987'''.
 
*In ADELAIDE, a scheduling error resulted in parts 3-4 of {{4P}} airing before parts 1-2. To make up for this blunder, the ADELAIDE station broadcast the story as a complete omnibus on '''1 August 1987'''.
−
*In some regions, {{4V}} may have aired as a complete omnibus on '''19 September 1987''', with no episode the following week.  
+
*In some regions, {{4V}} may have aired as a complete omnibus on '''19 September 1987''' rather than just parts 1 and 2 back to back; if so, parts 3 and 4 back to back didn't air in those regions the following week.  
−
*From Saturday, '''17 October 1987''', starting with {{4W}}, all the stories now aired with all episodes edited together as omnibus "movies", playing from 1.00 to 2.35pm, or from 12.20 to 2.35pm for the longer six-parters. (It was one of these edited omnibuses that actress Karen Gledhill saw during her holiday in '''[[Papua New Guinea]]''' – see that country's profile for more on these [[Papua New Guinea]] episodes.)
+
*From Saturday, '''17 October 1987''', starting with {{4W}}, all the stories now aired for the first time in Australia as "movies", with the episodes 'joined' together by combining footage from the cliffhanger ending and the recap in the next episode for a smooth transition. These played from 1.00 to 2.35pm, or from 12.20 to 2.35pm for the longer six-parters. (It was one of these omnibuses that actress Karen Gledhill saw during her holiday in '''[[Papua New Guinea]]'''.)
−
*The rest of the Tom Baker serials aired in this omnibus format.
+
*The rest of the Tom Baker serials aired in this omnibus format.  
−
*From '''9 April 1988''', the screenings in '''MELBOURNE''' (Victoria) went out of sync with the rest of the country: instead of full story omnibuses, the region aired only two episodes back to back, starting with {{5P}}.
+
*On '''19 March 1988''', {{5N}} was seen in all regions except for BRISBANE and PERTH; the Sheffield Shield cricket final between Queensland and Western Australia was being played in Brisbane, so coverage of that was being shown in both regions in place of '''Doctor Who'''. 
−
*From '''7 May 1988''', all regions bar Victoria aired the first four Peter Davison stories, then with a jump to four serials from season 21 (the stories spanning {{6A}} to {{6K}} were skipped as most of them had already been repeated in 1983, 1984 or 1985). Three further serials were omitted from this run: {{6E}}, {{6D}} (which remain the only two serials never to be repeated in Australia during the initial ABC runs) and {{6M}}, which was skipped because of its shorter length, and the ABC did not have other material to fill the other 50 minutes of the extended timeslot.
+
*From '''9 April 1988''', the screenings in '''MELBOURNE''' went out of sync with the rest of the country: instead of full story omnibuses, the region aired only two episodes back to back, starting with {{5P}}.
−
*The omnibus repeat run concluded on Saturday, '''2 July 1988''' with the omnibus of {{6R}}. Although some TV publications had it listed for that week, the final Davison serial may have been dropped from the schedule in some regions. It did air in SYDNEY. (In QUEENSLAND, TV listings also had two further repeats announced: {{6D}} scheduled for 2 July 1988 (instead of {{6R}}), and a repeat of {{6F}} for the following week - but both scheduled screenings were dropped.)
+
*From '''7 May 1988''', all regions bar MELBOURNE and Victoria aired the first four Peter Davison stories (also edited into "movies"; the regeneration at the start of {{5Z}} was retained prior to the titles which left the 'Part One' caption intact), then with a jump to four serials from season 21 (the stories spanning {{6A}} to {{6K}} were skipped as most of them had already been repeated in 1983, 1984 or 1985). Three further serials were omitted from this run: {{6E}} and {{6D}} (which remain the only two serials never to be repeated in Australia during the initial ABC runs) and {{6M}}, which was skipped because of its shorter length, and the ABC did not have material to fill the other 50 minutes of the extended timeslot.
 +
*The omnibus repeat run concluded on Saturday, '''2 July 1988''' with the omnibus of {{6R}}. Although some TV publications had it listed for that week, the final Davison serial may have been dropped from the schedule in some regions. It did air in SYDNEY and ADELAIDE. (In QUEENSLAND, TV listings also had two further repeats announced: {{6D}} scheduled for 2 July 1988 (instead of {{6R}}), and a repeat of {{6F}} for the following week - but both scheduled screenings were dropped.)
 
**Some of these repeats did not play in some regions, mainly due to pre-emption by sports coverage. The omnibuses aired in the main cities but not out in the provincial areas. And when cricket was rained-off, '''Doctor Who''' would sometimes be slotted in as an unbilled replacement.  
 
**Some of these repeats did not play in some regions, mainly due to pre-emption by sports coverage. The omnibuses aired in the main cities but not out in the provincial areas. And when cricket was rained-off, '''Doctor Who''' would sometimes be slotted in as an unbilled replacement.  
 
*The out of sync screenings in MELBOURNE came to an end on '''10 September 1988''', with the final serial, {{6P}}, shown as an omnibus.  
 
*The out of sync screenings in MELBOURNE came to an end on '''10 September 1988''', with the final serial, {{6P}}, shown as an omnibus.  
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'''VHS and RECORDS'''
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In '''April 1987''', Polygram Australia released [[Terror of the Zygons]] and [[The Talons of Weng-Chiang]] uncut on VHS and Betamax; both were "exclusive" to Australia since neither had been released in the UK.
 +
 +
The novelty single '''"Doctorin' the TARDIS"''' by The Timelords was released in Australia in '''May 1988'''. It entered the ARIA music charts at number "8" on '''21 August 1988'''. It reached the number "2" slot for one week only – on '''2 October 1988'''. By November, the novelty was wearing off, and on its 14th week in the charts ('''20 November'''), it had slipped down to "35" - then the following week it was gone… 
 +
*[https://australian-charts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=The+Timelords&titel=Doctorin%27+The+Tardis&cat=s Australian ARIA Charts 1988]
  
  
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Although the ABC now assigned its own censorship classifications, and had recently screened stories which had previously been classified "A" under the old regime, they were not able to acquire replacement tapes of the stories that had been cut by the AFCB, so ironically, they were forced to continue broadcasting the cut episodes from the same tapes they had been using since 1978...  
+
During 1988, the ABC reviewed its policy towards the series; despite a virtually non-stop run (of new episodes and repeats) from February 1987 to July 1988, it was decided that with the next series, '''Doctor Who''' would no longer occupy a primetime early evening slot, and would instead be part of '''THE AFTERNOON SHOW''', a children's cartoon / magazine programme that aired from 5.00 to 6.00pm five days a week. This AFTERNOON slot would be '''Doctor Who's''' new "home" for the next two years.
 +
[[File:CanberraT28-11-88.JPG|right|thumb|450px|Readers complain to the Canberra Times (28 Nov 1988) about the ABC's treatment of Doctor Who]]
 +
[[File:AfternoonShowQuizNov88.JPG|right|thumb|300px|The Afternoon Show quiz teams (screen grab)]]
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 +
'''NEW EPISODES'''
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 +
*The seventh Doctor made his debut on Monday, '''31 October 1988'''. A technical fault during transmission of {{7F}} resulted in the opening titles playing blank but with the music audible!
 +
*And because the new series would run into November, the series' 25th anniversary month, the ABC was able to advance purchase {{7H}} and play it as the last story of the run, from Friday '''18 to 23 November 1988'''. However, the first three episodes aired in the main centres only, with many of the regional stations, such as CANBERRA, missing out because the ABC instead relayed "live" cricket coverage that was being provided to the main centres by one of the competing commercial stations! Only the fourth part of the serial was ultimately screened by all regions, which was on the anniversary date, '''23 November 1988'''. This prompted several Canberra viewers to ring the station to complain, only to be told there were no plans to replay the "missed" episodes; those viewers also wrote to the ''Canberra Times'' -- see clipping at right.
 +
*From time to time, '''THE AFTERNOON SHOW''' featured '''"Doctor Who Quizzes"''', where three contestants would answer trivia questions about the show. On the Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday of '''21-23 November 1988''' - prior to the screenings of {{7H}} parts 2-4 – six members of the '''Australasian Doctor Who Fan Club''' took part in those three quiz sessions: Harvey Callaghan, Tony Cooke, Mark Douglass, Frazer Hawthorne, Rob Irwin and Kate Orman (who a few years later would become the first female author of the '''"Doctor Who The New Adventures"''' novels).
 +
{{clear}}
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'''REPEATS'''
  
−
*During 1988, the ABC reviewed its policy towards the series; despite a virtually non-stop run (of new episodes and repeats) from February 1987 to July 1988, it was decided that with the next series, '''Doctor Who''' would no longer occupy a primetime early evening slot, and would instead be part of '''THE AFTERNOON SHOW''', a children's cartoon / magazine programme that aired from 5.00 to 6.00pm five days a week.
+
*From Monday '''6 February 1989''' to Friday, '''31 March 1989''' (at 5.30pm), commenced yet another run of Tom Baker repeats, running from {{4A}} through to {{4K}}. After a three month break, the run resumed from Monday, '''19 June 1989''', with {{4L}} to {{4T}}.  
−
*The seventh Doctor made his debut on Monday, '''31 October 1988'''. And because the new series would run into November, the series' 25th anniversary month, the ABC was able to advance purchase {{7H}} and play it as the last story of the run, from '''18 to 23 November 1988'''. A technical fault during transmission of {{7F}} resulted in the opening titles playing blank but with the music audible!
+
*During the transmission of {{4L}} part four, the tape broke, resulting in "black" screens for the final few minutes. The "missing" section was then tacked onto the start of part five the following day!  
−
*From Monday '''6 February 1989''' to Friday, '''31 March 1989''' (at 5.30pm), commenced another run of Tom Baker repeats, running from {{4A}} (again!) through to {{4K}}. After a three month break, the run resumed from Monday, '''19 June 1989''', with {{4L}} to {{4T}}. A scheduling error resulted in {{4L}} part four starting late, and as a result the episode was cut short about five minutes before the end. The "missing" five minutes was then tacked onto the start of part five the following day! ({{4K}} and {{4P}} both aired for the first time episodically during this run.) This run of Bakers concluded on Friday, '''11 August 1989'''.
+
*The previously 'banned' {{4K}} and {{4P}} both aired for the '''first time''' in an uncut episodic form during this run.
 +
*This repeat block of Bakers concluded on Friday, '''11 August 1989'''.
 
*After a short break for two months, repeats of the first five Sylvester McCoy stories aired from '''20 October 1989''' with a lot of pre-emption due to sports events coverage; this run ended '''16 November 1989''', followed by the rest of season 25…
 
*After a short break for two months, repeats of the first five Sylvester McCoy stories aired from '''20 October 1989''' with a lot of pre-emption due to sports events coverage; this run ended '''16 November 1989''', followed by the rest of season 25…
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{{YouTube table
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|D__284xxe6U|'''Afternoon Show "The Who Game" Quiz'''
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}}
  
  
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|'''Repeats'''||'''{{4X}}----{{4W}}----{{4Y}}----{{4Z}}----{{5A}}----{{5B}}----{{5C}}----{{5D}}----{{5E}}----{{5F}}----{{5J}}----{{5H}}----{{5G}}----{{7J}}----{{7K}}----{{7L}}'''
 
|'''Repeats'''||'''{{4X}}----{{4W}}----{{4Y}}----{{4Z}}----{{5A}}----{{5B}}----{{5C}}----{{5D}}----{{5E}}----{{5F}}----{{5J}}----{{5H}}----{{5G}}----{{7J}}----{{7K}}----{{7L}}'''
 
|}
 
|}
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'''NEW EPISODES'''
  
 
*The remaining season 25 stories aired weekdays, still part of '''THE AFTERNOON SHOW''', from Friday, '''17 November 1989''' (immediately after the run of Block 21 repeats above), but in production order. The first episode of {{7K}} screened on the 26th anniversary date of '''23 November 1989'''. The remainder of this anniversary serial were held over until 29 November for country regions. The third part of {{7L}} was delayed until the following week (due to interruptions by tennis), bringing the run of season 25 to an end on Monday, '''4 December 1989''' in metro areas, and '''8 December''' in country areas.  
 
*The remaining season 25 stories aired weekdays, still part of '''THE AFTERNOON SHOW''', from Friday, '''17 November 1989''' (immediately after the run of Block 21 repeats above), but in production order. The first episode of {{7K}} screened on the 26th anniversary date of '''23 November 1989'''. The remainder of this anniversary serial were held over until 29 November for country regions. The third part of {{7L}} was delayed until the following week (due to interruptions by tennis), bringing the run of season 25 to an end on Monday, '''4 December 1989''' in metro areas, and '''8 December''' in country areas.  
−
* Five months later, from '''2 April 1990''', at 5.30pm (and still part of '''THE AFTERNOON SHOW''' line-up), the repeats that had ended in August 1989 recommenced from where they had left off, with the rest of season 15 ({{4X}}, and then all of the Key to Time sequence). There was no episode on 23 April, to make way for broadcasts from parliament, and 25 April, to make way for ANZAC Day celebrations. And on at least one other airdate between 2 and 24 April or 26 April to 7 May, another episode did not screen. The only episode known to have been pre-empted was {{5B}} part three, which was dropped on '''8 May 1990''' (and not subsequently re-scheduled) to make way for televised coverage of the opening of Parliament! This was followed by the first three serials from season 17.  
+
 
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'''REPEATS'''
 +
 
 +
* Five months later, from '''2 April 1990''', at 5.30pm (and still part of '''THE AFTERNOON SHOW''' line-up), the repeats that had ended in August 1989 recommenced from where they had left off, with the rest of season 15 ({{4X}}, and then all of the Key to Time). There was no episode on 23 April, to make way for broadcasts from parliament, and 25 April, to make way for ANZAC Day celebrations. And on at least one other airdate between 2 and 24 April or 26 April to 7 May, another episode did not screen. The only episode known to have been pre-empted was {{5B}} part three, which was dropped on '''8 May 1990''' (and not subsequently re-scheduled) to make way for televised coverage of the opening of Parliament! This was followed by the first three serials from season 17.  
 
*A few days later, the Australian media programme '''Backchat''' featured letters from irate '''Doctor Who''' fans complaining about the missing episode not going to air. However, the show incorrectly identified the story as [[City of Death]], even going as far as showing clips from that as compensation.  
 
*A few days later, the Australian media programme '''Backchat''' featured letters from irate '''Doctor Who''' fans complaining about the missing episode not going to air. However, the show incorrectly identified the story as [[City of Death]], even going as far as showing clips from that as compensation.  
 
**'''BACKCHAT CLIP''':
 
**'''BACKCHAT CLIP''':
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*The last ever new series of '''Doctor Who''' screened from Tuesday, '''30 October 1990''', at 5.30pm, in the correct story order. Part one of {{7M}} did not have the Russian to English subtitles.
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'''NEW EPISODES'''
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*The last ever new episodes of classic '''Doctor Who''' screened from Tuesday, '''30 October 1990''', at 5.30pm, so still part of '''THE AFTERNOON SHOW''' line-up. The four serials aired in the correct story order.  
 +
*Part one of {{7M}} was missing the English subtitles for the Russian dialogue.  
 
*The run concluded on Friday, '''16 November 1990'''.  
 
*The run concluded on Friday, '''16 November 1990'''.  
  
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==Links==
 
==Links==

Latest revision as of 21:59, 13 January 2025

AUSTRALIAN TRANSMISSION HISTORY (Part Eight) (1985-1990)

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Block 18: C BAKER ---- December 1985 to January 1986

Attack of the Cybermen, part one; Sydney Morning Herald, 9 December 1985
First Run 6T----6V----6W----6X----6Y----6Z

By the end of 1984, the ABC had assumed responsibility for its own in-house censorship of programmes. (The Bond Store was merged with the Film / VT Library as it was no longer required. It is possible that during initial prep for the merger that the 16mm print of "The Final Test" was discovered.)

The first block of new Doctor Who episodes assessed under this policy was season 22 (although the Jon Pertwee stories acquired in 1985 for the 1986 repeat season – see below – had also been acquired by this time and assessed anew by the ABC). The BBC had initially supplied the first batch of stories from Season 22 in their original 45 minute format.

It was at the ABC's request that the BBC re-edit the 45 minute episodes into 25 minute instalments, to fit in with the station's scheduling policy.

From 26 January 1986 (Australia Day), the ABC officially commenced broadcasts via one of the AUSSAT satellites.

  • These signals were also available simultaneously in Papua New Guinea. Refer to that country profile for further information.

Satellite links also meant that broadcasts across Australia could now be fully synchronised, meaning that from 1986 onwards, Doctor Who was beamed from space! However, for a while yet the BRISBANE network continued to transmit a separate feed to all the remote centres not yet part of the satellite link-ups.


NEW EPISODES

  • After eleven months with no new episodes or repeats, it wasn't until Monday, 9 December 1985 that fans could see the first full season of the sixth Doctor. Screening Monday to Thursday, at 6.35pm, the season aired in the re-edited 25 minute episode format, with 6W and 6X in production order.
  • Over the Christmas / New Years period, there was a break in the schedules, with part one of 6W screening on 23 December 1985, and part two held over to 30 December 1985. Part three of that serial aired two days later, on 1 January 1986.
  • Colin Baker's first season concluded on Tuesday, 28 January 1986. This was immediately followed by a long run of repeats and some new episodes, which has been treated as a separate Block of its own…


Block 19: PERTWEE ---- January 1986 to November 1986

First Run DDD----FFF----JJJ
Repeats UU----WW----AAA----BBB----CCC----EEE----GGG----HHH----KKK----MMM----LLL----NNN----OOO----RRR----PPP----QQQ----SSS----TTT----UUU----WWW----XXX----YYY----ZZZ----4A----4C----4E----4D----4F
The Krotons ep 2; TV Week for 10 February 1986

The BBC had released the package of all 24 Jon Pertwee serials (but not part one of WWW) for the United States. This package was also made available to New Zealand (where the repeat run had commenced in April 1985) and Australia.

This package consisted of episodes that were in black and white, PAL colour or NTSC to PAL conversions. (Although the ABC had previously transmitted several NTSC 525-line colour Pertwees in 1983, it appears that for this 1986 run the BBC supplied new NTSC to PAL conversions for those episodes.)

Under its new in-house censorship policy, the ABC considered that all programmes previously classified "A" or "G" with cuts were to be reassessed. Three serials that had previously been "A" rated were reviewed and given "G" ratings - and so DDD, FFF and JJJ aired for the first time in Australia. All the episodes previously classified "G with cuts" were re-evaluated, passed and aired without cuts.

One exception to that decision was CCC 1; the ABC agreed that the cuts made in 1971 (reducing or removing the violent shootings and physical fighting between Carrington's men and the UNIT soldiers in the warehouse) were still necessary. The previously-cut third episode, however, was given a "G uncut" pass.


  • The repeat run, Monday to Thursday, commenced on Wednesday, 29 January 1986, at 6.35pm, with the Patrick Troughton serial UU followed by WW (both of which had been acquired by the ABC over a year earlier, and had already aired in New Zealand in April 1985). (These were the first Troughton episodes to screen since 1972.)
  • The full run of 127 Pertwee episodes commenced on 13 February 1986. As noted on the previous page, the closing credits to some episodes of AAA were tinted green.
  • The previously "A" rated DDD aired from 18 March 1986; FFF (b/w) from 7 April 1986, and JJJ (b/w) from 5 May 1986. All 24 serials also aired for the first time in their correct story order. An announcement over the start of SSS part 3 apologised for it being in black and white.
  • PPP part 2 was the extended edit with the alternative Delaware theme music.
  • Commonwealth Games coverage interrupted the run mid-way through QQQ, from mid-July to early August. Part three of SSS was in b/w, but WWW was repeated only in its five-part full colour version.
  • It was during this repeat run that the ABC Shop advertised the Make Your Own Adventure… books – see the Merchandise section on the main profile page.
  • Yet another repeat of 4A commenced on 8 October 1986. The two-part 4B was missed because the schedulers did not want the run to conclude in the middle of the week. The repeat run concluded with part four of 4F on Thursday, 13 November 1986, to make way for sports coverage over the summer. (Some newspapers, such as in BRISBANE, did list both parts of 4B, but also that the run ended with 4F part two; these are clearly printing errors.)
Articles in Perth newspapers complaining about black and white repeats, and a response complaining about the complaints!
TV Week articles about "first-run" "repeats" in 1986



Block 20: C BAKER / T BAKER ---- February 1987 to July 1988

First Run 7A----7B----7C----4K----4P
Repeats 4H----4G----4J----4L----4M----4N----4Q----4R----4S----4V----4T----4X----4W----4Y----4Z----5A----5B----5C----5D----5E----5F----5J----5H----5G----5K----5L----5N----5Q----5R----5P----5S----5T----5V----5Z----5W----5Y----5X----6L----6N----6P----6Q----6R
The Pirate Planet Omnibus, 19 December 1987

The ABC's censors re-evaluated the previously "A" rated 4K and 4P, and both were passed with "G" ratings, and screened for the first time. (4K had previously aired in a truncated edition in a late-night slot.)

However, even though the ABC now assigned its own censorship classifications, and had passed the stories which had previously been classified "A" under the old regime, they were not able to acquire replacement tapes of the stories that had been cut by the AFCB, so ironically, they were forced to continue broadcasting the cut Tom Baker episodes from the same tapes they had been using since 1978...


NEW EPISODES

  • Colin Baker's second season commenced on Saturday, 7 February 1987. For the first time since 1977, the series was back to screening once per week. The ABC had screened the 45 minute episodes of season 22 as re-edited 25 minute instalments, however, for season 23 they edited the 25 minute episodes together, airing them in 50-minute slots from 6.10 to 7.00pm over seven weeks.
  • For BRISBANE, only three weeks into the new run, the series was moved to Sundays at 5.10pm for 12 weeks. This was to accommodate broadcasts of Rugby Union (both local, as well as the 1987 Rugby World Cup), which generally played Saturday afternoons. This date change was from 1 March 1987, with parts seven and eight of "The Trial" until 17 May 1987, with 4K parts three and four. From 17 May 1987, the series was moved back to Saturday.


REPEATS

  • From Saturday, 28 March 1987, a run of Tom Baker repeats continued from where the previous run had ended in November 1986, starting with 4H. As with season 23, two episodes were now edited together, playing on Saturdays.
  • There were some regional variances during this run, usually due to coverage of sporting events, such as football and golf; ADELAIDE, MELBOURNE and HOBART aired them at 1.00pm or 1.15pm. Some states skipped stories, or played them in a different order. HOBART had to skip 4H in order to keep in step with screenings in MELBOURNE. MELBOURNE missed parts three and four of 4V.
  • SYDNEY and PERTH aired the two episodes at 6.10pm. It remained in SYDNEY at that timeslot through until September, but for PERTH there was a variation when, to accommodate local broadcast of the WAFL Match Of The Day, it was moved to 4.10pm from 4 April (with 4H parts 3/4) through to 29 August (with 4K episodes 3/4). Then, from Saturday 5 September, both SYDNEY and PERTH moved the two episodes to 1.00pm (starting with 4S 3/4).
  • The two previously "banned" stories 4K and 4P finally went to air, albeit in a slightly modified form since two episodes were now edited together, losing two sets of closing titles and recaps; they screened on 9 and 16 May 1987 and 18 and 25 July 1987 respectively.
  • In ADELAIDE, a scheduling error resulted in parts 3-4 of 4P airing before parts 1-2. To make up for this blunder, the ADELAIDE station broadcast the story as a complete omnibus on 1 August 1987.
  • In some regions, 4V may have aired as a complete omnibus on 19 September 1987 rather than just parts 1 and 2 back to back; if so, parts 3 and 4 back to back didn't air in those regions the following week.
  • From Saturday, 17 October 1987, starting with 4W, all the stories now aired for the first time in Australia as "movies", with the episodes 'joined' together by combining footage from the cliffhanger ending and the recap in the next episode for a smooth transition. These played from 1.00 to 2.35pm, or from 12.20 to 2.35pm for the longer six-parters. (It was one of these omnibuses that actress Karen Gledhill saw during her holiday in Papua New Guinea.)
  • The rest of the Tom Baker serials aired in this omnibus format.
  • On 19 March 1988, 5N was seen in all regions except for BRISBANE and PERTH; the Sheffield Shield cricket final between Queensland and Western Australia was being played in Brisbane, so coverage of that was being shown in both regions in place of Doctor Who.
  • From 9 April 1988, the screenings in MELBOURNE went out of sync with the rest of the country: instead of full story omnibuses, the region aired only two episodes back to back, starting with 5P.
  • From 7 May 1988, all regions bar MELBOURNE and Victoria aired the first four Peter Davison stories (also edited into "movies"; the regeneration at the start of 5Z was retained prior to the titles which left the 'Part One' caption intact), then with a jump to four serials from season 21 (the stories spanning 6A to 6K were skipped as most of them had already been repeated in 1983, 1984 or 1985). Three further serials were omitted from this run: 6E and 6D (which remain the only two serials never to be repeated in Australia during the initial ABC runs) and 6M, which was skipped because of its shorter length, and the ABC did not have material to fill the other 50 minutes of the extended timeslot.
  • The omnibus repeat run concluded on Saturday, 2 July 1988 with the omnibus of 6R. Although some TV publications had it listed for that week, the final Davison serial may have been dropped from the schedule in some regions. It did air in SYDNEY and ADELAIDE. (In QUEENSLAND, TV listings also had two further repeats announced: 6D scheduled for 2 July 1988 (instead of 6R), and a repeat of 6F for the following week - but both scheduled screenings were dropped.)
    • Some of these repeats did not play in some regions, mainly due to pre-emption by sports coverage. The omnibuses aired in the main cities but not out in the provincial areas. And when cricket was rained-off, Doctor Who would sometimes be slotted in as an unbilled replacement.
  • The out of sync screenings in MELBOURNE came to an end on 10 September 1988, with the final serial, 6P, shown as an omnibus.


VHS and RECORDS

In April 1987, Polygram Australia released Terror of the Zygons and The Talons of Weng-Chiang uncut on VHS and Betamax; both were "exclusive" to Australia since neither had been released in the UK.

The novelty single "Doctorin' the TARDIS" by The Timelords was released in Australia in May 1988. It entered the ARIA music charts at number "8" on 21 August 1988. It reached the number "2" slot for one week only – on 2 October 1988. By November, the novelty was wearing off, and on its 14th week in the charts (20 November), it had slipped down to "35" - then the following week it was gone…


Block 21: McCOY ---- October 1988 to November 1989

Remembrance of the Daleks, part two; Sydney Morning Herald, 21 November 1988
First Run 7D----7E----7F----7G----7H
Repeats 4A----4C----4B----4E----4D----4F----4H----4G----4J----4K----4L----4M----4N----4P----4Q----4R----4S----4V----4T----7D----7E----7F----7G----7H

During 1988, the ABC reviewed its policy towards the series; despite a virtually non-stop run (of new episodes and repeats) from February 1987 to July 1988, it was decided that with the next series, Doctor Who would no longer occupy a primetime early evening slot, and would instead be part of THE AFTERNOON SHOW, a children's cartoon / magazine programme that aired from 5.00 to 6.00pm five days a week. This AFTERNOON slot would be Doctor Who's new "home" for the next two years.

Readers complain to the Canberra Times (28 Nov 1988) about the ABC's treatment of Doctor Who
The Afternoon Show quiz teams (screen grab)

NEW EPISODES

  • The seventh Doctor made his debut on Monday, 31 October 1988. A technical fault during transmission of 7F resulted in the opening titles playing blank but with the music audible!
  • And because the new series would run into November, the series' 25th anniversary month, the ABC was able to advance purchase 7H and play it as the last story of the run, from Friday 18 to 23 November 1988. However, the first three episodes aired in the main centres only, with many of the regional stations, such as CANBERRA, missing out because the ABC instead relayed "live" cricket coverage that was being provided to the main centres by one of the competing commercial stations! Only the fourth part of the serial was ultimately screened by all regions, which was on the anniversary date, 23 November 1988. This prompted several Canberra viewers to ring the station to complain, only to be told there were no plans to replay the "missed" episodes; those viewers also wrote to the Canberra Times -- see clipping at right.
  • From time to time, THE AFTERNOON SHOW featured "Doctor Who Quizzes", where three contestants would answer trivia questions about the show. On the Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday of 21-23 November 1988 - prior to the screenings of 7H parts 2-4 – six members of the Australasian Doctor Who Fan Club took part in those three quiz sessions: Harvey Callaghan, Tony Cooke, Mark Douglass, Frazer Hawthorne, Rob Irwin and Kate Orman (who a few years later would become the first female author of the "Doctor Who The New Adventures" novels).


REPEATS

  • From Monday 6 February 1989 to Friday, 31 March 1989 (at 5.30pm), commenced yet another run of Tom Baker repeats, running from 4A through to 4K. After a three month break, the run resumed from Monday, 19 June 1989, with 4L to 4T.
  • During the transmission of 4L part four, the tape broke, resulting in "black" screens for the final few minutes. The "missing" section was then tacked onto the start of part five the following day!
  • The previously 'banned' 4K and 4P both aired for the first time in an uncut episodic form during this run.
  • This repeat block of Bakers concluded on Friday, 11 August 1989.
  • After a short break for two months, repeats of the first five Sylvester McCoy stories aired from 20 October 1989 with a lot of pre-emption due to sports events coverage; this run ended 16 November 1989, followed by the rest of season 25…




Afternoon Show "The Who Game" Quiz


Block 22: McCOY ---- November 1989 to October 1990

The Happiness Patrol, part three; Melbourne, 4 December 1989
First Run 7J----7K----7L
Repeats 4X----4W----4Y----4Z----5A----5B----5C----5D----5E----5F----5J----5H----5G----7J----7K----7L


NEW EPISODES

  • The remaining season 25 stories aired weekdays, still part of THE AFTERNOON SHOW, from Friday, 17 November 1989 (immediately after the run of Block 21 repeats above), but in production order. The first episode of 7K screened on the 26th anniversary date of 23 November 1989. The remainder of this anniversary serial were held over until 29 November for country regions. The third part of 7L was delayed until the following week (due to interruptions by tennis), bringing the run of season 25 to an end on Monday, 4 December 1989 in metro areas, and 8 December in country areas.


REPEATS

  • Five months later, from 2 April 1990, at 5.30pm (and still part of THE AFTERNOON SHOW line-up), the repeats that had ended in August 1989 recommenced from where they had left off, with the rest of season 15 (4X, and then all of the Key to Time). There was no episode on 23 April, to make way for broadcasts from parliament, and 25 April, to make way for ANZAC Day celebrations. And on at least one other airdate between 2 and 24 April or 26 April to 7 May, another episode did not screen. The only episode known to have been pre-empted was 5B part three, which was dropped on 8 May 1990 (and not subsequently re-scheduled) to make way for televised coverage of the opening of Parliament! This was followed by the first three serials from season 17.
  • A few days later, the Australian media programme Backchat featured letters from irate Doctor Who fans complaining about the missing episode not going to air. However, the show incorrectly identified the story as City of Death, even going as far as showing clips from that as compensation.
    • BACKCHAT CLIP:



  • After a short break, the repeats resumed from 15 October 1990, with season 25, (again, in production order), but skipping 7H, which had already been repeated in November 1989. The day after part three of 7L, season 26 was screened…


Block 23: McCOY ---- October 1990 to November 1990

First Run 7N----7Q----7M----7P


NEW EPISODES

  • The last ever new episodes of classic Doctor Who screened from Tuesday, 30 October 1990, at 5.30pm, so still part of THE AFTERNOON SHOW line-up. The four serials aired in the correct story order.
  • Part one of 7M was missing the English subtitles for the Russian dialogue.
  • The run concluded on Friday, 16 November 1990.



Airdates in Australia
1965-66 | 1966-67 | 1967-71 | 1971-75 | 1976-78 | 1979-82 | 1983-85 | 1985-90 | 1991-2002 | 2003-(2020s)
Key: BOLD = first airing | ITALICS = repeat
Table of Repeats | ABC's Regional Stations
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Links

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