The Ratings War (audio story): Difference between revisions

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{{title|''{{PAGENAME}}''}}
{{title dab away}}
{{Infobox CD
{{real world}}
| cd name= The Ratings War
{{Infobox Story SMW
| image=[[Image:The_Ratings_War_cover.jpg|250px]]
|image          = The Ratings War cover.jpg
| series=[[Doctor Who]] -<br/>[[Big Finish Doctor Who audio stories#Special Releases|Specially Released Audio Dramas]]
|doctor          = Sixth Doctor
| number= 2
|enemy          = [[Beep the Meep]]
| doctor= [[Sixth Doctor]]
|setting        = [[TV studio]]  
| companions=  
|writer          = Steve Lyons
| enemy= [[Beep the Meep]]
|director        = [[Gary Russell]]
| year=
|producer        = [[Gary Russell]], [[Jason Haigh-Ellery]]
| writer= [[Steve Lyons]]
|music          = [[David Darlington]]
| director= [[Gary Russell]]
|sound          = [[David Darlington]]
| producer=
|cover          = [[Clayton Hickman]]<ref>''[[The Big Finish Companion: Volume 2]]''</ref>
| publisher= [[Big Finish Productions]]
|publisher       = Big Finish Productions
| release date= [[January]] [[2002]]
|release date   = 10 January 2002
| format= 1 Episode on 1 CD
|format         = 1 CD<br/>Download
| production code= DWMCD03
|production code = DWMCD03
| isbn=
|isbn           = ISBN 978-1-78575-338-1 (digital)
| previous story= [[Last of the Titans]]
|series          = [[Special Releases#Doctor Who Magazine free gifts|Big Finish DWM originals]]
| next story= [[No Place Like Home]]
|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>


'''The Ratings War''' was a special Big Finish recording given away with [[DWM Issue 313|Issue 313]] of ''[[Doctor Who Magazine]]''.  It featured the [[Sixth Doctor]] taking on another of his old Comic Strip foes, [[Beep the Meep]].
== 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...


==Publisher's summary==
== Plot ==
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...
''to be added''


==Cast==
== 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]].


==Notes==
* Director - [[Gary Russell]]
* 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.
* Executive Producer - [[Jacqueline Rayner]]
* Also included as a bonus on the original CD release is the first episode of the [[Eighth Doctor]] audio adventure, ''[[Invaders from Mars]]''.
* Music and Sound Design - [[David Darlington]]
* This is one of only a few stories in which the Sixth Doctor is depicted travelling alone, without a companion.
* Producers - [[Gary Russell]] and [[Jason Haigh-Ellery]]
* Writer - [[Steve Lyons]]


==Continuity==
== Worldbuilding ==
''to be added''
* 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]]''.
* Beep threatens the Doctor with [[Grundian Blood Nog]]s.
 
== Notes ==
* ''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}}


==[[Sixth Doctor - Timeline|Timeline]]==
== Footnotes ==
*This story occurs after [[DWM]]: ''[[The Age of Chaos]]''
{{reflist}}
*This story occurs before [[ST]]: ''[[Christmas Special]]''


==External links==
{{BF 6DA}}
*{{dwrefguide|who_dwm2.htm|The Ratings War}}
{{BFA DWM}}
*{{tetrap|6/ratings.html|The Ratings War}}
{{Beep the Meep sources}}
{{TitleSort}}


[[Category:Sixth Doctor audio stories|Ratings War]]
[[Category:The Sixth Doctor Adventures audio stories]]
[[Category:Big Finish special releases|Ratings War]]
[[Category:Big Finish special releases]]
[[Category:2002 audio stories|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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