Doctor Who DVD Files

Doctor Who DVD Files: Issue 1 (Released 14th January 2009)

Doctor Who DVD Files is a fortnightly partwork magazine published by GE Fabbri Ltd, authorised by 2 entertain and BBC Worldwide. As well as a magazine, each issue includes a DVD of two episodes of the re-launched series of Doctor Who with Christopher Eccleston and David Tennant as the Ninth and Tenth Doctors, respectively.
From issue 25 subscibers were informed the series was to be extended beyond The Next Doctor release (DWDVDF 28), with DVDs of classic stories up to, tentatively, issue 40. In May 2011, the number of releases was extended further with an anticipated 81 issues. Following the first black and white release of the story Tomb of the Cybermen (DWDVDF 73), the magazine begin releasing back-to back episodes of the Eleventh Doctor's televised adventures (from DWDVDF 74).

Overview

GE Fabbri Ltd followed their successful Doctor Who: Battles in Time collection which had come to an end (after an extended run of 70 issues) Doctor Who DVD Files was launched on January 14^th 2009 throughout the UK and Ireland after a regional test in the north-east of the UK (from September 2008).
This new title was promoted with a £1 million advertising campaign in magazines and on the commercial channels.
Due to licensing issues involving the inclusion of the DVDs, this magazine will not be distributed in North America, however beginning in February 2009 the magazine introduced an online version, sans DVD content, that was accessible worldwide (see below).
The magazine title by necessity had to include 'DVD' in the title so as not to be confused with the Doctor Who Files, a range of BBC Children's Books.
Initially launched as a 28-part issue (including releases up to and including The Next Doctor), the title was expanded to 40 issues with 'classic' story releases as 'vanilla' editions (ie. without extras).
The magazine was once again expanded, this time up to 60 issues with 'classic' story releases, however issues 55 & 56 contained the Tenth Doctor's last 4 episodes (Planet of the Dead, The Waters of Mars & The End of Time)

Online Content

The publisher (GE Fabbri Ltd), had anticipated that before this title had been announced there would be interest in the magazine part only, from fans already having access to the stories on DVD, individually or as part of a boxset release, as well as non-UK Doctor Who fans as DVD licensing prevented the magazine from being distributed outside the British Isles.

Because the DVDs were supplied with ALL copies of the magazine, a magazine version only was not practical. A different approach was adopted and following the launch of the accompanying website [1], an expansion into a archive subscription service(updated with each new issue released), was announced and implemented in February 2009.

For a subscription fee of £3 per month (or £25 per year), this archive service allowed online readers unlimited access to the 600+ pages of the magazine and a further 150 pages that made up the comic strip pages that ran in their other successful title Doctor Who: Battles in Time.

The website also included a number of other bonus features including a desktop Dalek, online games and downloadable wallpapers.

Content

This partwork magazine with detachable pages (and online archive service), had pages that could be divided and filed under 7 headings (denoted by colour and page referencing). Not all sections were represented each issue and some pages are of a fold-out nature

The Doctor (what we know about the last of the Time Lords from Gallifrey)
Allies (with quotes of wit and wisdom)
Enemies (with essential data)
Behind The Scenes (with exclusive interviews)
Technology (with special artwork)
Flashback (with new artwork reliving classic moments)
DVD Episode Guide (with essential facts, previous encounter notes and a test yourself quiz on accompanying DVD release)