The Ratings War (audio story): Difference between revisions

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{{Infobox CD|
{{title dab away}}
cd name= The Ratings War |
{{real world}}
image=[[Image:The_Ratings_War_cover.jpg|250px]]|
{{Infobox Story SMW
series=[[Doctor Who]] -<br/>[[Big Finish - Doctor Who Audio Dramas#Special Releases|Specially Released Audio Dramas]] |
|image          = The Ratings War cover.jpg
number= 2 |
|doctor          = Sixth Doctor
doctor= [[Sixth Doctor]]|
|enemy          = [[Beep the Meep]]
companions= |  
|setting        = [[TV studio]]  
enemy= [[Beep the Meep]]|
|writer          = Steve Lyons
year= |
|director        = [[Gary Russell]]
writer= [[Steve Lyons]] |
|producer        = [[Gary Russell]], [[Jason Haigh-Ellery]]
director= [[Gary Russell]] |
|music          = [[David Darlington]]
producer= |
|sound          = [[David Darlington]]
publisher= [[Big Finish]] |
|cover          = [[Clayton Hickman]]<ref>''[[The Big Finish Companion: Volume 2]]''</ref>
release date= [[January]] [[2002]] |
|publisher       = Big Finish Productions
format= 1 Episodes on 1 CD |
|release date   = 10 January 2002
production code= [[DWM02]] |
|format         = 1 CD<br/>Download
isbn= |
|production code = DWMCD03
previous story= [[Last of the Titans]] |
|isbn            = ISBN 978-1-78575-338-1 (digital)
next story= [[No Place Like Home]] }}
|series          = [[Special Releases#Doctor Who Magazine free gifts|Big Finish DWM originals]]
|prev            = Last of the Titans (audio story)
|next            = No Place Like Home (audio story)
|series2        = ''[[The Sixth Doctor Adventures]]''
|next2          = The Maltese Penguin (audio story)
|epcount = 1
}}{{audio stub}}
'''''The Ratings War''''' was a 2002 [[Big Finish Productions|Big Finish]] audio drama, featuring the [[Sixth Doctor]] taking on one of his old comic strip foes, [[Beep]] the [[Meep]]. Originally released as an inclusion with [[DWM 313|''Doctor Who Magazine'' #313]], it was later re-released as a free download on the [[Big Finish Productions]] website on [[23 July (releases)|23 July]] [[2014 (releases)|2014]].<ref>[https://www.bigfinish.com/news/v/big-finish-s-15th-anniversary-of-doctor-who-releases Big Finish's 15th Anniversary of Doctor Who releases]</ref>


==Publisher's summary==
== Publisher's summary ==
Beep the Meep is back -- and he's found a new channel for his aggression! A brand new series is about to make television history, but can the Doctor prevent his furry foe from turning a docu-drama into a crisis, or will the fluffy-wuffy animals get it in the neck? The first shots in the ratings war have been fired, and the next one is aimed at your head...
[[Beep the Meep]] is back — and he's found a new channel for his aggression! A brand new series is about to make television history, but can the Doctor prevent his furry foe from turning a docu-drama into a crisis, or will the fluffy-wuffy animals get it in the neck? The first shots in the ratings war have been fired, and the next one is aimed at your head...


==Cast==
== Plot ==
''to be added''
 
== Cast ==
* [[Sixth Doctor|The Doctor]] - [[Colin Baker]]
* [[Sixth Doctor|The Doctor]] - [[Colin Baker]]
* [[Beep the Meep]] - [[Toby Longworth]]
* [[Beep]] the [[Meep]] - [[Toby Longworth]]
* [[Roger Lowell]] - [[Robert Jezek]]
* [[Roger Lowell]] - [[Robert Jezek]]
* [[Robbie McHale]] - [[Alistair Lock]]
* [[Robbie McHale]] - [[Alistair Lock]]
* [[Lucy (The Ratings War)|Lucy]] - [[Jane Goddard]]
* [[Lucy (The Ratings War)|Lucy]] / Susan - [[Jane Goddard]]


==References==
== Crew ==
* The Ratings War features the return of [[Beep the Meep]], the villain introduced in the Fourth Doctor comic strip  [[The Star Beast]].


* Director - [[Gary Russell]]
* Executive Producer - [[Jacqueline Rayner]]
* Music and Sound Design - [[David Darlington]]
* Producers - [[Gary Russell]] and [[Jason Haigh-Ellery]]
* Writer - [[Steve Lyons]]


==Notes==
== Worldbuilding ==
* The original CD release includes "hidden material" which is heard if the CD is left playing for several minutes after the conclusion of the story. The bonus material includes outtakes, the full version of Beep's improvised rant, and a complete version of the ''Beep and Friends'' theme song.
* The new shows on the network include ''[[Young Cops in Hospital]]'', ''[[Wacky Domestic Mishaps]]'', ''[[Look! Cute Animals!]]'', ''[[Hospital Street]]'', ''[[Appealing Animals in Distress]]'' and ''[[Audience Shares]]''.
* Also included as a bonus on the original CD release is the first episode of the [[Eighth Doctor]] audio adventure, ''[[Invaders from Mars]]''.
* Beep threatens the Doctor with [[Grundian Blood Nog]]s.
* This is one of only a few stories in which the Sixth Doctor is depicted travelling alone, without a companion.


==Continuity==
== Notes ==
''to be added''
* ''The Ratings War'' features the return of [[Beep]] the [[Meep]], the villain in [[COMIC]]: ''[[Doctor Who and the Star Beast (comic story)|Doctor Who and the Star Beast]]''. His fate in [[COMIC]]: ''[[Star Beast II (comic story)|Star Beast II]]'' is also mentioned. [[Black Sun (The Star Beast)|Black Sun]] radiation is also mentioned, though referred to as [[Black star|Black ''Star'']] radiation instead.
* Author [[Steve Lyons]] previously featured the Sixth Doctor and Meeps in his short story ''Wish Upon a Star Beast'' for the 1999 [[charity anthology]] ''Perfect Timing''.
* Also included as a bonus on the original CD release is the first episode of the [[Eighth Doctor]] audio adventure, ''[[Invaders from Mars (audio story)|Invaders from Mars]]''.
* This is one of only a few stories in which the Sixth Doctor is depicted travelling without a [[companion]].
* The Doctor's speech at the end has several meta-fictional references. The Doctor disparages television, claiming it is limiting and unsuitable to his needs, a reference either to [[Doctor Who#End of an Era|Doctor Who's cancellation]] or [[Colin Baker]]'s unceremonious firing. He also claims that he needs a medium that allows him to be "louder" and that the audience will be "hearing more from me, I can assure you", a reference to the audio stories. [[Robbie McHale]] asks if the audience will ever know who he is (a reference to the Doctor's mysterious past) or if he would ever come back (a reference to the potential return). Further, ''Beep & Friends'' is placed on "hiatus" for eighteen months, referencing the eighteen-month hiatus that ''Doctor Who'' suffered in 1986 after barely avoiding cancellation by the BBC.
* This marks [[Beep]]'s first appearance in an audio story. Additionally, it is his first not to be in comic or comic-strip form. Meep would return to audio 17 years later in ''[[Doctor Who and the Star Beast (audio story)|Doctor Who and the Star Beast]]''.
* After the 2019 redesign of the [[Big Finish Productions|Big Finish]] website, this release was added to ''[[The Sixth Doctor Adventures]]''.
* The preview of ''[[Invaders from Mars (audio story)|Invaders From Mars]]'' that was bundled with it in its release in [[Doctor Who Magazine|''Doctor Who Magazine'']] still is when downloaded from either the Big Finish site or in the Big Finish app.
 
== Continuity ==
* The Doctor compares Beep to a [[Speelsnape]]. ([[TV]]: ''[[Revelation of the Daleks (TV story)|Revelation of the Daleks]]'')
* Beep recalls the [[Fourth Doctor]] trapping him in a ''[[Lassie]]'' film. ([[COMIC]]: ''[[Star Beast II (comic story)|Star Beast II]]'')
 
== External links ==
{{bigfinish|releases/v/the-ratings-war-1113|The Ratings War}}
{{dwrefguide|who_dwm2.htm|The Ratings War}}
{{tetrap|6/ratings.html|The Ratings War}}


==Timeline==
== Footnotes ==
*This story occurs after [[DWM]]: ''[[The Age of Chaos]]''
{{reflist}}
*This story occurs before [[ST]]: ''[[Teach Yourself Ballroom Dancing]]'' [Part II]


==External links==
{{BF 6DA}}
* [http://www.bigfinish.com/drwho_special/dwm_ratings.shtml Big Finish '''The Ratings War''' page]
{{BFA DWM}}
* [http://www.drwhoguide.com/who_dwm2.htm The Doctor Who Reference Guide detailed synopsis of '''The Ratings War''']
{{Beep the Meep sources}}
* [http://www.tetrap.com/drwho/disccon/6/ratings.html The Discontinuity Guide '''The Ratings War''' page]
{{TitleSort}}


[[Category:Sixth Doctor audio plays|Ratings War]]
[[Category:The Sixth Doctor Adventures audio stories]]
[[Category:Big Finish Audio Dramas|Ratings War]]
[[Category:Big Finish special releases]]
[[Category:2002 audio plays|Ratings War]]
[[Category:2002 audio stories]]
[[Category:Stories that use the Delaware theme]]
[[Category:Sixth Doctor audio stories]]
[[Category:Beep the Meep sources]]
[[Category:One part audio stories]]
[[Category:Stories in need of plot details]]

Latest revision as of 23:14, 17 November 2024

RealWorld.png

audio stub

The Ratings War was a 2002 Big Finish audio drama, featuring the Sixth Doctor taking on one of his old comic strip foes, Beep the Meep. Originally released as an inclusion with Doctor Who Magazine #313, it was later re-released as a free download on the Big Finish Productions website on 23 July 2014.[2]

Publisher's summary[[edit] | [edit source]]

Beep the Meep is back — and he's found a new channel for his aggression! A brand new series is about to make television history, but can the Doctor prevent his furry foe from turning a docu-drama into a crisis, or will the fluffy-wuffy animals get it in the neck? The first shots in the ratings war have been fired, and the next one is aimed at your head...

Plot[[edit] | [edit source]]

to be added

Cast[[edit] | [edit source]]

Crew[[edit] | [edit source]]

Worldbuilding[[edit] | [edit source]]

Notes[[edit] | [edit source]]

  • The Ratings War features the return of Beep the Meep, the villain in COMIC: Doctor Who and the Star Beast. His fate in COMIC: Star Beast II is also mentioned. Black Sun radiation is also mentioned, though referred to as Black Star radiation instead.
  • Author Steve Lyons previously featured the Sixth Doctor and Meeps in his short story Wish Upon a Star Beast for the 1999 charity anthology Perfect Timing.
  • Also included as a bonus on the original CD release is the first episode of the Eighth Doctor audio adventure, Invaders from Mars.
  • This is one of only a few stories in which the Sixth Doctor is depicted travelling without a companion.
  • The Doctor's speech at the end has several meta-fictional references. The Doctor disparages television, claiming it is limiting and unsuitable to his needs, a reference either to Doctor Who's cancellation or Colin Baker's unceremonious firing. He also claims that he needs a medium that allows him to be "louder" and that the audience will be "hearing more from me, I can assure you", a reference to the audio stories. Robbie McHale asks if the audience will ever know who he is (a reference to the Doctor's mysterious past) or if he would ever come back (a reference to the potential return). Further, Beep & Friends is placed on "hiatus" for eighteen months, referencing the eighteen-month hiatus that Doctor Who suffered in 1986 after barely avoiding cancellation by the BBC.
  • This marks Beep's first appearance in an audio story. Additionally, it is his first not to be in comic or comic-strip form. Meep would return to audio 17 years later in Doctor Who and the Star Beast.
  • After the 2019 redesign of the Big Finish website, this release was added to The Sixth Doctor Adventures.
  • The preview of Invaders From Mars that was bundled with it in its release in Doctor Who Magazine still is when downloaded from either the Big Finish site or in the Big Finish app.

Continuity[[edit] | [edit source]]

External links[[edit] | [edit source]]

Footnotes[[edit] | [edit source]]

  1. ↑ The Big Finish Companion: Volume 2
  2. ↑ Big Finish's 15th Anniversary of Doctor Who releases
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