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The move to give Davies and Bad Wolf creative control signals a significant shift in the BBC’s strategy. According to industry estimates, the BBC could lose out on around £40 million in revenue per ten-episode season due to the transfer of creative authority to the production company. Their recent focus appears to be on leveraging Doctor Who as a global franchise—expanding merchandising, international sales, and branding efforts—while stepping back from day-to-day storytelling.
Such a partnership resembles a model where the show is essentially managed as a commercial product, with the creative vision placed firmly in Davies’s hands. This aligns with the industry trend of outsourcing creative control to production companies to foster fresh ideas and reinvigorate long-standing franchises.