BBC America have announced the air date for Torchwood: Children of Earth on their Web site. July 20th looks to be the official air date for US viewers, but for those in the UK the air date has still not been officially announced. My guess is that it will air during the same week as in the US, but it’s only a guess.
Many people, including me, have been critical of the BBC for being so secretive about the air date, but BBC America’s head honcho, Garth Ancier, gave some details as to why they were holding it back in a Multichannel News article:
The July 20 launch date had to be kept confidential until now because of the British Broadcasting Corp.’s domestic competitive concerns, Ancier said. The BBC didn’t want to say too soon when, for example, new Doctor Who and Torchwood programming was going to air in Britain and the United States for fear competitors would counter-program and the dates might have to shift. New episodes of those two shows will air the July 20 week. “I would have loved to announced it a lot earlier and then gone to operators a lot earlier,” Ancier said.
In a related story, BBC America has begun readying their HD programming service, which will start on July 20 and kick off with the premiere of Torchwood: Children of Earth, followed by the HD premiere of the first of the last four Doctor Who specials on July 26, which features David Tennant as the tenth Time Lord.
Garth Ancier, President, BBC Worldwide America says, “BBC AMERICA is a truly unique channel in the cable landscape. We bring viewers some of the best programs on television and now with the option to experience them in HD, they’re going to be even better. The launch of BBC AMERICA HD coupled with the existing VOD channel, BBC AMERICA On-Demand, expands the opportunity for viewers and distributors to access the best of British entertainment.”
You’ll need to check with your cable or satellite TV provider if and when BBC America HD will be available. This is great news for HDTV lovers.
